Rangers in Champions League grudge match boost as £6.4m exit looms

Add as preferred source on Google

Rangers hold out hope for a successful Champions League qualification campaign his season that would see the club return to Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 11 years.

Achieving the feat would be the next rung on the ladder in the club’s recovery with the prestige and the finances attached to the competition something which makes qualification a must for the Gers.

But with two ties on the horizon next month, a potential European grudge match just got a whole lot easier as the difference-maker the last time the clubs met prepares to move on.

Rangers could face Europa League foes Slavia Prague in the Champions Path Playoff round should Steven Gerrard’s side manage to get past the third round of qualifying.

Whilst it remains unclear who the Gers will play in the 3^rd round, the fact Rangers are seeded ensures that they should be favourites, even if the tie certainly won’t be easy.

But in the Playoff Round Rangers could face seeded side Slavia, who knocked the Gers out in the Last 16 of the Europa League last season.

Romanian playmaker Nicolae Stanciu was the difference-maker for Slavia in many ways across the 180 minutes.

Stanciu, 28, beat Allan McGregor with a stunning strike in the Czech Republic as the two teams drew 1-1 and also scored a wonderful free-kick as Slavia beat the Gers 2-0 at Ibrox.

The match was overshadowed by an incidence of on-pitch racist abuse hurled by Czech defender Ondrej Kudela at Ibrox star Glen Kamara.

This has resulted in both players being handed UEFA bans which will see Kudela (10 games) miss Champions League qualification whilst Kamara will miss three matches [BBC Sport].

But should the two draw each other Rangers will be boosted by the news that Galatasaray are reportedly on the verge of signing Stanciu with Slavia valuing him at €7.5m (£6.4m) [Digisport].

A deal is said to be close for the playmaker who largely set the teams apart and should a grudge match be set up by the draw, Rangers have been handed a timely boost.

Qualification for the Champions League proper is said to be worth over £30m with the Ibrox side set for a showdown just days before for the first Old Firm of the season.