Rangers to face Genk or Servette in Champions League qualifying as Belgians set to offer stern Ibrox test
Rangers will face either Servette or Genk in the first hurdle of their attempt to reach the Champions League group stage for a second successive season.
Michael Beale's squad is shaping up nicely and that has to be the way with the biggest test of the season coming so early in the campaign - and now they know a bit more about the task facing them.
The Champions League qualifiers have always been huge pressure occasions for Scottish clubs as they try to get up to speed quickly to meet the £30 million challenge.
Beale failed alongside Steven Gerrard a couple of years ago when when the Light Blues went down to Swedish side Malmo at the first hurdle and it's the Belgian or Swiss league runners-up who are first up this time.
Rangers did manage it last season when they managed to overcome Union Saint-Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven but had a nightmare when they got there – finishing with the worst group stage record in history.
Can they get there again? Follow all the reaction to the third qualifying round draw right here in our LIVE blog!
Who are ya?
We take a closer look at both Genk and Servette and look at the potential threat each would pose Rangers.
Rangers dates for the diary
The schedule, as it stands, sees Rangers at home on August 8th or 9th and the return leg six or seven days later in Switzerland or Belgium but plans could change if a scheduling conflict.
That usually isn't the case and Ibrox punter can plan for a major Euro night as they await what comes next.
Servette profiled
Runners up in the Swiss Super League, Servette stand between Genk and a place in the third qualifying round. Congolese left back Bradley Mazikou is their big summer signing so far after spending £350,000 to bring him in from Aris in Greece. He's been joined by Danish starlet Alexander Lyng,who cost the same from FC Helsingor.
Genk profiled
The Belgians should have had sufficient time to catch their breath after what was an incredible end to the Pro League season. At differing points within five minutes on the final day, three of the Championship playoff round teams found themselves top of the pile. But it was perhaps Genk who suffered the most heartbreaking end. They were leading Royal Antwerp in stoppage time with one-hand on the title, until Toby Alderweireld found the top corner to stun The Smurfs and rip the championship from them.
Ahead of the new campaign, they’ve added Gambian winger Alieu Fadera. He’s joined in a €4million switch Zulte Waregem. They’ve also signed left back Joris Kayembe from top flight rivals Charleroi. Tanzanian forward Ally Samatta returned to Fenerbahce at the end of his loan before joining PAOK.
Danilo in for UCL?
There has been a major development in Rangers' chase for Feyenoord star Danilo and it looks like Michael Beale could have the Brazilian for their qualifying ties.
League path draw in full
Braga v FK TSC Bačka Topola
Rangers v Servette or Genk
Dnipro-1 or Panathinaikos v Marseille
PSV Eindhoven v Sturm Graz
Rangers v Servette or Genk
Michael Beale's men are at home first on August 8/9 with return in Switzerland or Belgium on August 15.
Rangers are out of the hat...
And they play Servette or Genk
Here we go
Braga are first out of the hat against FK TSC Bačka Topola
Champions Path first
Rangers will have to wait. The Champions path is up first.
Group 1 Champions Path
Raków Częstochowa or Qarabag v BATE Boris v Aris Limasol
AEK Athens v Dinamo or Astana
HSK Zrinkski/Slovan Bratislava v FC Sheriff Tiraspol or Maccabi Haifa
Tom Barlow takes to the stage
UEFA competitions manager Tom Barlow is explaining the format for the draw.
If Rangers are drawn out of the hat first then they will be at home first. And the fixtures will be known later today.
And we're off...
The strains of Zadok the Priest can mean just one thing - we're about to get started.
10 minutes to go!!
We are just 10 minutes away now from the draw getting underway in Nyon.
Trip into the unknown
There's no doubt about the potential rivals who are the least known of all the teams.
FK TSC Backa Topola, more commonly known as TSC, finished runners-up in Serbia last season - the best ever finish for the second oldest club in the country.
They are based in the Vojvodina region of Serbia and about 100 miles from the capital Belgrade.
Europa League safety net
Rangers won't want to contemplate failure in the Champions League qualifiers but the good news is that if they do drop out of UEFA's premier competition then they will go directly into the Europa League group stage.
Scots long shots
The Champions League final takes place at Wembley this season and what an occasion that would be if Rangers could get there. But the latest odds from Betfair show how unlikely that is given the financial gulf to the Euro elite.
Betfair - Champions League winner 2023/24
Man City: 2/1
Bayern Munich: 7/1
Real Madrid: 17/2
Arsenal: 11/1
Barcelona: 12/1
Paris St-G: 12/1
Man Utd: 16/1
Napoli: 20/1
Newcastle: 20/1
Celtic: 150/1
Rangers: 500/1
Austrians WANT Gers
Sturm Graz manager Christian Ilzer admits Rangers would be his choice in the draw. Ilzer, who was previously in charge of Austria Vienna and Wolfsberger in his homeland, didn't hide the fact he fancies the Ibrox side.
Getting drawn with Glasgow Rangers would be my wish. Not because they are weak, but I would really like to sample the atmosphere at Ibrox Park. I'd love to hear the Champions League anthem back at Graz and it's not impossible for us to make it to the group stage. Last season, we missed out narrowly to Dynamo Kyiv and we want to go further. We look forward to the draw.
Jack in UCL vow
From the elation of Eindhoven to a chastening Champions League experience. Ryan Jack lived through it all at Rangers in Europe last season.
The dressing-room celebrations after beating PSV in Holland to qualify for the group stage was a major highlight of Gio van Bronckhorst’s time as gaffer. But when the Ibrox side were drawn alongside Euro heavyweights Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax - reality soon kicked in. Jack and Co suffered heavy defeats against a trio of top sides and they remained scarred for the rest of the campaign.
The midfielder admits the gulf in class - and finances - can be huge against some of the continent’s big guns. But that doesn’t mean he and the rest of Michael Beale’s squad won’t be doing everything they can to make up for last year’s horror show.
The group stage of the Champions League was tough for us last year and we suffered a few bad defeats. But this is a different group of players. The quality has gone up and so has the standard.
So we have to strive to get to the Champions League. And for those of us who were here last season, it’s a chance to prove a point.
We don’t want that to happen again. After PSV, it probably showed us the level we need to try and get to.
We played Newcastle at Ibrox last week and they’re another example of that. They’re straight into the group stage this season and you saw why in the first half against us. They have top players, playing at the top level of the game. They’re all on the same page.
We’re probably not at that level yet but you always have to try and improve, to get better. Being exposed to that will help us.
The feeling we got that night over in Eindhoven was unbelievable. But it’s done now. We all know it’s on to another season now and different challenges, against different teams. It’s important we start the campaign well and get into those group stages.
Potential rivals ranked and rated
Record Sport took a look at how Rangers' potential opponents are shaping up ahead of the draw in Nyon. Check out our deep dive.
Second round qualifier dates
If Rangers face an either or scenario then they will be kept waiting until next week before knowing who their opponents are.
Servette host Genk in the first of their tie tomorrow night before the return in Belgium next Wednesday, August 2.
Dnipro-1 take on Panathinaikos tomorrow night before their return leg seven days later. So at least that would give fans 24 hours extra notice to sort travel.
Of the six potential opponents, Rangers have only faced two of them in competitive action before with mixed fortunes against both.
They met Sturm Graz in the Champions League group stage under Dick Advocaat 23 years ago. They thumped the Austrians 5-0 at Ibrox in one of their most impressive ever European displays but lost the return 2-0 as the wheels started to come off under the Dutchman.
Allan Johnston featured for Gers in the match at Ibrox and, in a peculiar twist, they could face his SON if they are paired with the Austrians as former Motherrwell starlet Max is on the verge of a move there.
Rangers have also faced Panathinaikos on two occasions. They met in the Champions League under Alex McLeish with a 1-1 draw in Athens and 3-1 defeat at home in 2003.
And five yeras later Nacho Novo's crucial away goal in a 1-1 draw helped Gers progress en route to the UEFA Cup final in Manchester after a goalless draw at home.
Trip to Slovakia could be on the cards
There might not be any Slovakian teams in the draw but Rangers fans should note that if they draw SC Dnipro-1 - and the Ukrainian outfit would still have to see off Panathinaikos - then the away leg would likely take place in Slovakia.
Dnipro are taking on the Greeks in the Kosice's stadium where they have been playing their European games since the invasion by Russia.
Diary dates
The all-important dates for the third qualifying round ties are August 8/9 for the first leg with the return taking place the following midweek on August 15.
UEFA say that any match dates will be communicated to the clubs by 5pm this evening so Rangers fans should know when they away leg takes place so they can hit the web to get in early for cheap travel.
And Rangers will already know who they would be up against with the Play Off round draw taking place on Monday, August 7.
The Gers incentive
Despite a catastrophic Champions League campaign last season, the good work in Europe for the Light Blues in recent years means they would actually be seeded HIGHER than Treble winners and rivals Celtic if they reach the group stage.
Who can Rangers face?
This is of course the most important bit.
Rangers are seeded which is the good news as it should mean - on paper at least - that they will get a slightly easier draw.
SEEDED
RANGERS (SCO)
Braga (POR)
PSV (NED)
Marseille (FRA)
UNSEEDED
Genk (BEL)/Servette (SUI)
Sturm Graz (AUT)
Dnipro (UKR)/Panathinakos (GRE)
TSC Backa Topola (SRB)
Draw procedure
Let's start with the official business. The draw will take place at 11am UK time.
There is a Champions Path draw and a League path. It's the latter which concerns Rangers fans. A total of 10 names go into the hat but only eight will be standing when the third qualifying round takes place with two second qualifying round ties to be decided.
Good morning
It's an early start and we don't just mean for this blog. It's Rangers who will have to be up to speed early in the season to meet their Champions League qualifying challenge.
