Rangers may have to face off against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if they want to reach the Champions League after the striker signed for potential playoff opponents Marseille.
The Gabonese striker, 34, joins the Ligue 1 club after leaving Premier League Chelsea and should Rangers overcome their QR3 opponents, could now be lying in wait at the final qualification stage.
Rangers enter the competition at the third qualifying stage whilst Marseille – alongside Eredivisie outfit PSV – have safe passage to the Playoff stage of the competition and a shot at Group Stage glory.
Having fallen well short of expectations in last season’s competition, the pressure is on Rangers and Michael Beale to navigate the Champions League qualifiers even if the potential opponents the Ibrox side could face include Marseille and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Rangers expected to overcome likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
With Rangers having overseen a substantial squad revamp this summer, with more still to come, expectation is rising and the club’s supporters want to see their new heroes in next season’s Champions League proper.
With £13.5m in guaranteed prize money also on the table for the teams that make the tournament, it’s a cash boost Rangers should really be aiming for season on season.
There are eight potential opponents Rangers could face all the way up to qualifying, with Marseille and PSV potential playoff opponents and the others being made up on unseeded teams from QR3 and below.
These other six sides are Austria’s Sturm Gratz, FK TSC Bačka Topola from Serbia, Belgian club K.R.C. Genk, Servette of Switzerland, Panathinaikos of Greece and Dnipro of Ukraine.
Rangers will find out which of the six they will face in Champions League QR3 on Monday 24th July and already excitement is building in Ibrox circles.
With Marseille a potential opponent in the Playoff stages, the French club will be hoping ex-Barcelona, Dortmund and Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can fire them to the Champions League groups.
But before Rangers can even begin to target a showdown with the Gabonese striker, they face a tough QR3 clash against any of the aforementioned sides and we await the draw with anticipation.
