Rangers fans are nervously awaiting the Champions League QR3 draw in Switzerland this morning.
The Gers are in the seeded group of the non-champions path to qualification for the revamped Champions League this summer.
With nerves over the club’s summer transfer business to date, Rangers fans have one eye on these qualifiers which take place on 6/7th August and 13th August.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the draw at 11am GMT at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.
- READ MORE: Rangers learn Champions League QR3: potential opponents and more
- READ MORE: How much could Rangers earn from Champions League qualification?
- READ MORE: Why Champions League distribution gives English sides £30m head start
- READ MORE: Rangers ranked as Scotland’s ‘most successful club in Europe’
Rangers QR3 Champions League draw live
Rangers fans react to Champions League draw
Rangers fans have been reacting to the draw against either Dynamo Kiev or Partizan Belgrade.
Whilst fans are generally positive, the club’s supporters have a message for Nils Koppen, Philippe Clement and the Ibrox Board.
Travelling Rangers fans urged to wait on UEFA
Rangers have urged fans to wait on further communication alongside UEFA before booking any travel plans.
Ten days for Rangers to add quality
Just to add to the tension around Ibrox following the draw, Rangers will need to register their squad for the QR3 clashes by August 1st.
Let’s get to work Mr Koppen…
Rangers face tough Playoff prospect
Scotland’s Coefficient is a trusted source on all Euro news on these shores and has been reacting to the draw.
The popular X account reckons it’s the best QR3 draw that Rangers could’ve hoped for given the circumstances.
If the Ibrox side (whisper it quietly) are to win against either Dynamo Kiev or Partizan Belgrade they will progress to the Playoff where a tough clash lies in wait.
Rangers would then have to face the winners of Lille v Lugano/Fenerbahce or Salzburg v Twente for a shot in the revamped tournament.
A failure to win the QR3 tie and the club drop down into the Europa League group phase.
Have Rangers faced Partizan Belgrade before?
Rangers have only faced Serbian giants Partizan once in the club’s history.
In the five-team group stage of the 2006/07 UEFA Cup, Rangers welcomed Partizan to Ibrox for the final game of the groups.
Alan Hutton scored the only goal of the game with Rangers progressing as group winners and Partizan finishing bottom of the pile after four games.
The other teams in the group included Maccabi Haifa (Israel), Livorno (Italy) and Auxerre (France).
Have Rangers faced Dynamo Kiev before and will we play in Ukraine?
Rangers famously defeated Dynamo Kiev in the European Cup back in 1988.
Losing the first leg 1-0 in Kyiv, Rangers roared back at Ibrox to progress in the first round of the competition with a 2-0 victory.
Mark Falco and Ally McCoist got the goals at Ibrox whilst a certain Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko scored for Dynamo in Kiev.
Rangers fans will also look forward to a trip to Lublin in Poland should Kiev defeat Partizan.
The Ukrainians have negotiated a deal to use the 15k seater stadium for Champions League qualification.
[Link]When will Rangers find out Champions League foe?
Well, it’s quite simple really.
Rangers will know who they face in Champions League QR3 next when Dynamo Kiev and Partizan Belgrade complete their fixtures.
The two sides kick off their tie in Lublin, Poland at the Lublin Arena tomorrow (23/07) , with the return in Belgrade scheduled for next Wednesday (31/07).
[Link]Rangers to face Dynamo Kiev or Partizan Belgrade
A tough trip to the East for Philippe Clement’s men.
Rangers have drawn the winner of the Champions League QR2 clash between Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine) or Partizan Belgrade (Serbia).
The first leg will be played away from home on August 6th or 7th with the prospect of a trip to Belgrade tantalising for Rangers fans.
The return leg will be played at Hampden on the 13th of August.
[Link]Champions Path drawn
Whilst this doesn’t affect Rangers, the Champions Path has been drawn.
Now on to what we all came for…
[Link]Who is conducting Champions League draw?
The draw is being conducted by UEFA Head of Club Competitions & Calendar Tobias Hedtstück and UEFA Senior Competitions Manager Tom Barlow!
Good to see we’re straight in and no messing about!
[Link]Champions path up first
Rangers fans will have to wait, with the Champions Path up first in the draw.
The Gers are seeded in the League Path of the competition.
[Link]UEFA coverage kicks off
We’re underway in the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland!
Can Rangers reach the revamped Champions League?
[Link]
Rangers Champions League draw coming up LIVE
You can almost feel the tension in the air.
Catch all the immediate reaction, views, and news around the Champions League QR3 here.
But you can also watch it live on the official UEFA YouTube channel.
It starts in t-minus seven minutes.
[Link]Rangers Women face tough Champions League qualifier
It’s not just the men’s team who will have to qualify for the Champions League this season.
The Rangers Women face a tough initial qualifier against the might of Women’s Super League side Arsenal.
Should they win the one-off tie then they’ll progress to a Playoff against either Atletico Madrid (Spain) or Rosenborg (Norway).
The semi-final – i.e Rangers clash with Arsenal – will be played on 4th September at Arsenal’s Meadow Park with the final three days later.
One night in Eindhoven…
Rangers fans have been through the mill with Champions League qualification plenty of times.
But nothing quite beats that early-season emotion of reaching the competition proper.
It’s going to be a tall ask, but here’s Antonio Colak netting v PSV back in 2022 to whet your Champions League appetite.
Rangers Champions League heartbreak
Since the events of 2012, football has changed and Rangers have taken their time catching up.
Champions League football is essential to the growth of the Ibrox club and so far we’ve had pretty mixed results in the competition.
Steven Gerrard wasn’t backed in the summer of 2021 and eventually walked out agains the backdrop of Champions League defeat to Malmo.
A year later, Dutch boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst guided Rangers to a first group stage place in 12 long years.
Overcoming USG and PSV in qualification, it was a cause for celebration.
But a lack of transfer activity once again came back to haunt Rangers as the club’s injury curse struck and Rangers were humbled by Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax.
A year later Michael Beale crashed out 8-3 on aggregate to PSV Eindhoven, but how will Philippe Clement fare this time around?
[Link]Clement: Rangers will have to overcome ‘bigger budgets’ to reach Champions League
“It is for sure not easy because you need to qualify against teams with a much bigger budget,” Clement said. “That is the reality. We did it a few years ago with Brugge.
“The advantage then at that moment was that you had your core of your team already a few years together. We are building that now.
“You need to build a core for the next couple of years and that is why players like Diomande were really important to bring in in January. We see him grow in the months after and again now. We are busy with doing that and we are going to throw ourselves full to qualify because everything is possible.
“Of course, you are not going to be favourites in these qualifying games against teams with bigger budgets and maybe teams who play a long time together. That is the interesting thing to have this challenge, you want to be in this position.
“It is amazing to be at Rangers to be a player and have these challenges and play for those things than to be in a team where you don’t have these challenges and you only have the league and the cup.
“We know already that we have Europe after so there is going to be a lot of games, a lot of experience to take. Everyone wants to go to the Champions League. Me also, I have been there several times and it is a nice world.”
[Link]Philippe Clement: Rangers need ‘extra quality’ for Champions League
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been honest about the need for extra quality if the Ibrox side are to make the Champions League.
But speaking to the Rangers Review, the Ibrox manager claims that no matter what team he takes into qualification, Clement believes Rangers can reach the competition.
”We need extra bodies and extra quality to be successful,” said Clement when asked if his current squad is good enough to reach the Champions League group stage.
“I always believe that with your squad you can succeed, because otherwise, you cannot get results against Real Madrid with a team like Brugge.
“Everyone said that was impossible. But if you don’t believe it is possible, it will never happen.
“So it’s about the mindset of the players. They must believe in themselves and be hungry to become better because it’s not only about quality, it’s about work rate, it’s about mentality, it’s about what you do every day. I’ve seen players that are now better than they were six months ago.
“We’ve been working hard for that kind of mindset in all the players who have come in. We want them all ambitious to become better and with all the staff together we can give them the tools to become better.
“So in that way, I believe that with whatever squad we have at that moment will have the ability to qualify. But everybody needs to be at their top and the more quality you have, the better your chance.”
How does the revamped Champions League format work?
Whilst we’re still two challenging qualification rounds away from the Champions League proper, the tournament has been revamped ahead of this season.
The competition will evolve into a new ‘league format’ including 36 teams, a four team increase on the season previously.
The new format will see clubs play eight games against eight different opponents (four home, four away).
These teams will be determined by four seeding groups which are ranked by coefficient, with each team drawing two opponents from each pot.
All the sides will be ranked against each other with three points for a win, one point for a draw.
The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition.
The remaining teams will be eliminated with the safety net of dropping down to the Europa League also removed.
Here’s a handy video from Tifo Football to explain in more detail:
Champions League turnover has Rangers impact
In another interview with Rangers News, Adam Williams has explained that Rangers will have two transfer budgets this summer.
One if the club qualifies for the Champions League, and another if we don’t.
It’s no secret money is tight at Ibrox as the club look to move on the substantial – and expensive – deadweight in the squad.
But the financial boost of Champions League could be a game changer in our hunt for new signings.
Namely because the club need to be financially prudent against our turnover.
With the sizeable boost of Champions League qualification Rangers will be able to go out and invest as per the imminent arrivals of new UEFA spending rules.
“The plan for Rangers is for them to be regulars in UEFA competitions,” said Williams. “That means they need to comply with UEFA spending rules.
“The governing body is phasing in a squad cost control ratio that will eventually limit clubs to spending 70 per cent of turnover on wages, transfers and agent fees, so Rangers have no choice but to be financially disciplined.”
[Link]UEFA Champions League qualification worth £30m to Rangers
Speaking to Rangers News, TBR football finance expert Adam Williams has explained just how valuable qualification for the Champions League group stages could be at Ibrox.
Between a mixture of prize money, tickets and TV cash, Rangers could rake in up to £30m.
“Champions League group stage qualification will be worth a minimum of £14m next season, based on 2023-24 distribution data,” said Williams.
“However, the expanded competition format will likely nudge that figure up by around £2.5m, so Rangers are looking at £16-17m all told.
“They’ll also get a cut of the UK broadcast market pot and a payment based on their 10-year coefficient, although that will only be a modest sum as the system favours elite teams with impressive recent histories in the competition.
“UEFA will revise this system slightly in the coming weeks to reflect the new Champions League format, but the changes are not expected to move the dial hugely.
“The two extra group stage games also provide Rangers with more scope for prize money and matchday income.
“Each group stage win is worth about £2.4m, while a draw is worth around £800,000.
“One extra matchday at Ibrox means they could also expect to rake in approximately £8m in total in that department.
“All in all, I’d expect Rangers to trouser somewhere between £25m and £30m if they can navigate the play-off rounds and progress to the Champions League group stage in 2024-25.”
[Link]Progression to Champions League Playoff worth £4.2m (€5m)
As if Rangers didn’t need any more incentive to qualify from Champions League QR3, UEFA offer a parachute payment to clubs who make the Playoff.
That means Rangers will bank an impressive £4.2m should they overcome their prospective QR3 opponents.
As for the Champions League Playoff, the draw for the final round of qualification will be made before Rangers play their QR3 ties.
The draw is made on August 5th with the ties to take place 20/21st and 27/28th August.
Rangers will also be seeded for the Playoff Round draw after Benfica – who qualified for the League Path in Portugal – were awarded safe passage to the Group Stages.
This is because Atalanta won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League via Serie A, freeing up a space in the competition.
This was handed to Benfica due to the fact the Portuguese giants are the highest ranked side in qualifying.
[Link]Where to watch live Rangers Champions League draw
Whilst we’ll be keeping you up to date via Rangers News, you can watch the draw live via the official UEFA website.
The draw will be kicking off at 11am GMT and you can also watch it on the official UEFA YouTube channel.
[Link]Who have Rangers avoided as a result of Champions League seeding?
Whilst there are a number of tasty ties in the pipeline, Rangers have done well to avoid a number of tricky teams.
Given the club are seeded for the draw, Rangers avoid potential clashes with Slavia Prague (Czechia), Salzburg (Austria) and Lille (France).
[Link]Union Saint Gilloise rematch?
Belgian outfit Union Saint GIlloise are another potential opponent for Rangers in this morning’s draw.
Rangers will be familiar with the Belgians from the summer of 2022 when the club’s faced each other at this stage of qualifying.
After a 2-0 defeat in Belgium, Rangers won 3-0 at Ibrox to progress but this time around the Gers won’t have the safety net of their famous stadium.
It comes with Rangers being forced to relocate at the beginning of the season due to ongoing works at Ibrox’s Copland Stand.
The Special One to finally visit Ibrox?
Rangers supporters will note the inclusion of Turkish giants Fenerbahce as potential Champions League QR3 opponents.
The Turks face a Champions League QR2 tie against Swiss side Lugano and could face Rangers if the two clubs are drawn together this afternoon.
The prospect of Fenerbahce takes on a new dimension after the Special One Jose Mourinho took over in Turkey this summer.
Legendary Portuguese boss Mourinho has never faced Rangers in his career although this is a glamour tie many Gers fans will hope to avoid.
Similarly Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine face Partizan Belgrade of Serbia in QR2 and the winner of this tie will progress to QR3.
Who could Rangers face in Champions League QR3?
Whoever Rangers face in Champions League qualification, fans know they’ll be in for a tough game.
There are no easy games at this level but there are certainly some sides Rangers fans might want to avoid more than others.
Rangers face four potential opponents in Champions League QR3 as a result of the club’s seeding. There are as follows:
FC Twente (Netherlands)
Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium)
Lugano FC (Switzerland) or Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) or Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)
[Link]Rangers to enter at Champions League QR3
Rangers’ European exploits have guaranteed Scotland an automatic Champions League group stages place for the last three seasons.
But unfortunately our domestic shortcomings have gifted the qualification to Old Firm rivals Celtic.
As a result Rangers enter the tournament in the 3rd round of Qualifying, taking the more challenging League Path to the tournament.
The route to the revamped Champions League group stage is split in two, with the Champions Path reserved for sides who won their domestic divisions, and the League Path for teams who made qualification via higher ranked leagues.
Given the Ibrox side’s impressive recent form in European competition, the Gers will also be one of six clubs seeded for the League Path of the draw.
The layout of the draw is as follows:
Champions Path
Number of teams involved: 12 through the second qualifying round
Number of seeded teams: 6
Number of matches: 2 x 6
Matchdays: 6/7 and 13 August 2024
Match dates and kick-off times to be announced by: 26 July 2024 (first and second legs)
League Path
Number of teams involved: 8 (6 directly and 2 through the second qualifying round)
Number of seeded teams: 4
Number of matches: 2 x 4
Matchdays: 6/7 and 13 August 2024
Match dates and kick-off times to be announced by: 26 July 2024 (first and second legs)
Rangers to learn Champions League qualifying fate
Rangers are all set to learn their Champions League qualification fate in Nyon this morning.
The draw will be live from Switzerland at 11am GMT and all eyes will be on who comes out of the hat alongside the Ibrox team.
There are some big names in the draw and you can keep up with all the latest news here.
Here’s some handy information on the draw:
