Rangers face ‘particularly daunting’ Champions League task – BBC Sport
Rangers face a “particularly daunting” task in their upcoming Champions League qualification route, according to BBC Sport.
The Gers must follow the path they took to the group stages last season after finishing second in the Scottish Premiership.
This involves a third round qualifier along with a play-off, with entry into the Europa League group stages on the cards should the Gers lose in either round.
“Another Scottish Premiership title win means Celtic will go straight into the Champions League group stage for the second season running and will learn their opponents on 31 August, before kicking their campaign off on either 19/20 September,” according to BBC Sport.
“They could be joined there by runners-up Rangers. The Ibrox side negotiated a third round qualifier and a play-off to make it into the groups with their city rivals this season and would have to do the same again this August.
“And the task looks particularly daunting, with the likes of Sturm Graz and Dnipro up first in the draw on 24 July for kick-off on 8/9 August, before teams such as PSV Eindhoven or Marseille hove into view.”
Huge challenge
Rangers have done reasonably well in Europe in recent times, until they actually reach the group stage of the top competition at least, and they will be desperate to keep up that momentum in the upcoming campaign.
There is, of course, the back up of the Europa League for the Gers if they fail in the Champions League, but failure won’t be an option for Rangers manager Michael Beale.
The boss has already been doing his utmost to get his own squad ready for the qualifiers, which really will come thick and fast this summer.
And while they will be quietly confident of progression to Europe’s elite competition, there will be a handful of clubs who will provide a very tough test for the Scottish outfit.
Beale will want to be pushing fierce rivals Celtic all the way in the league and the domestic competitions, but a strong European run will also be on his agenda, with a hugely talented and big squad needed to achieve success in all areas.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have been sent an injury warning regarding one of their new signings.