Scottish Champions Rangers have reached the Europa League group stages – but the same can’t be said of Czech counterparts and fierce Euro rivals Slavia Prague.
The Ibrox side and the Prague outfit certainly don’t see eye-to-eye and prior to European qualification this season there were fears the two could meet again this summer.
Slavia knocked Rangers out of the Europa League last 16 last season by defeating the Gers 3-1 on aggregate with the second leg at Ibrox overshadowed by disgraceful scenes.
Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara was racially abused by Czech defender Ondrej Kudela before both were banned for three and ten games respectively.
Rangers striker Kemar Roofe was also banned for four games for a high-boot challenge which saw him sent off in the game and keeper Ondrej Kolar suffering a fractured skull.
The Gers would be reduced to nine men on the night when Leon Balogun was sent packing in what was a bitterly disappointing evening at Ibrox in more ways than one.
Slavia – like Rangers – went the last season unbeaten and – like Rangers – were forced into Champions League qualifiers at the start of the season.
However – like Rangers – Slavia would crash out at the third qualifying round stage following defeat to Ferencvaros and faced Legia Warsaw in a Europa League Playoff.
Gers fans will be delighted to hear that the Czech club crashed out of the Playoff courtesy of a 2-1 defeat in Poland following a 2-2 draw on home turf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBE6uTwKfJo
It means the club will now have to make do with a space in the inaugural Europa Conference League – a decidedly lower level than the Europa with less financial benefits.
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of lads.
Meanwhile, Rangers toiled to a 0-0 draw in Alashkert which secured group stage football for the fourth season in a row at Ibrox, even if two players failed to impress.
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