Rangers discover Champions League play-off draw opponents with £40m jackpot on the line – IF they beat Viktoria Plzen
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
RANGERS need to get past Viktoria Plzen to keep their Champions League dreams alive.
But now they know who they'll face NEXT if they see-off the Czech outfit.
Sign up for the Rangers newsletter
Sign up
2
Rangers have been drawn out of the hat in Champions League qualifying
Credit: Getty
2
Djeidi Gassama was the hero in the second qualifying round
Credit: EPA
Russell Martin's men have already beaten Panathinaikos in the second qualifying around.
A 3-1 aggregate win saw Rangers dump the Greek giants out and advance to the third round where they'll taken on Plzen.
The first leg of that tie takes place at Ibrox tomorrow night with the return leg in the Czech Republic next week.
Should the Gers get through, they face just one more hurdle before making it to the Champions League's new league phase for the first time.
But it won't be easy.
That's because the Light Blues have been drawn to face Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge.
If they get past Viktoria Plzen, they'll have the play-off ties on 19/20 August and 26/27 August.
If Rangers do NOT see-off their third qualifying round opponents, they will transfer into the Europa League instead.
If that happens, the Light Blues will NOT have another qualifying round to negotiate and will instead go straight into the league phase of that competition.
More to follow...
For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun.
Thescottishsun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thescottishsun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Russell Martin's post-Motherwell Rangers criticism came from ‘love and care'
The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about 'egos' and accusing some of 'self-preservation'. Martin was speaking again at the club's training ground ahead of the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night, where a play-off tie against Austrian outfit Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaits the winners. 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss, who replied 'hopefully he will be in it, we will wait and see', when asked if new signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, will be included in the squad. 'We are here, myself, Gilly (Matt Gill, assistant), the coaches, ultimately for the players. 🎙️ Russell Martin spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday's match against Viktoria Plzeň. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 'We're here to win football matches, but as coaches day to day, we are here to help the players. 'That's our job, to help them win, to help them develop, to help them improve and understand why, to help them enjoy playing for a club like this, because I don't think too many of them have enjoyed it enough to play for this amazing football club, because it's not always easy. 'I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. 'If they know me as a person, the people who do know me, they know it comes from a place of love and to help them and to want them to be better. 'So I think when it comes from that place, whatever is said and if they understand that, then we'll always have a really honest and good conversation about it. 'I hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do, and I really believe they're really trying. 'So they're good people, but the default to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shed that a little bit.' ✍️ We are today delighted to announce the signing of Finnish international Oliver Antman on a four-year-deal. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 Martin confirmed that Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane will again miss out through fitness issues while it is not clear if Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old attacker who has signed on loan from Tottenham, will receive international clearance in time to be part of the squad. On the task facing his side, Martin said: 'The game is going to be tough. 'They are really powerful, really strong, play forward quickly, run forward quickly. 'It's a really different test to the Panathinaikos one and it is a really interesting and exciting one for us. 'They have strength in certain areas, but we have to try and turn the game, especially at Ibrox, into the game that we want, move the ball quickly, better than we did the other day. 'We have to really be up for the fight against these guys but I am looking forward to it.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Derek McInnes hopes Tony Bloom enjoyed Hearts' win over Aberdeen
The Brighton owner was at Tynecastle for the first time after recently completing a deal to invest in the Edinburgh club, and he had his name sung by supporters lapping up his bold pre-match declarations that Hearts can win the Scottish title and break into the Champions League. After an early own goal from Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie and a 73rd-minute header from Stuart Findlay sent Hearts top of the fledgling league table, manager McInnes said of Bloom's attendance at the match: 'He'll have loved getting his name sung. I haven't spoken to him yet, I'm meeting him tomorrow. 'We've had a couple of text conversations. I think he would have been encouraged as well, seeing Tynecastle the way it was. I think he would have enjoyed it. He certainly would have enjoyed the result because, as he's said, he just wants to see a winning Hearts team more often than not. That's what we're all wanting.' McInnes smiled wryly when asked about Bloom's bullish comments in the 24 hours leading up to the match, but he said: 'I knew what Tony was going to say, I heard what you guys heard, absolutely no problem with it at all. 'There's so many people, including Tony, who are ambitious and want Hearts to be successful at the club. He's obviously come in with a fresh pair of eyes and came out and shot for exactly what he wants. 'We're trying to make progress and I think we can make progress. Where Tony and others and myself think we can bridge the gap and maybe try and get ahead of others is the confidence they have in the recruitment.' McInnes felt he had 'a team screaming to win the game of football there, absolutely busting'. 'For sheer commitment, guts, effort, I thought we were 10 out of 10,' he said. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin conceded the better team won. 'We had an idea of how we were going to take on the game today in the first half with the ball, and we didn't succeed in that,' he said. 'Hearts put good pressure on us, and then they win these second balls and create a momentum with the crosses. They were better in the first half. 'I think in the second half we got better with the ball and started creating some chances in their box, but we were not really clinical. We were not really there.'
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Derek McInnes hopes Tony Bloom enjoyed Hearts' win over Aberdeen
Derek McInnes was delighted Hearts were able to kick off their William Hill Premiership campaign with a 2-0 victory over Aberdeen in front of ambitious new shareholder Tony Bloom. The Brighton owner was at Tynecastle for the first time after recently completing a deal to invest in the Edinburgh club, and he had his name sung by supporters lapping up his bold pre-match declarations that Hearts can win the Scottish title and break into the Champions League. After an early own goal from Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie and a 73rd-minute header from Stuart Findlay sent Hearts top of the fledgling league table, manager McInnes said of Bloom's attendance at the match: 'He'll have loved getting his name sung. I haven't spoken to him yet, I'm meeting him tomorrow. 'We've had a couple of text conversations. I think he would have been encouraged as well, seeing Tynecastle the way it was. I think he would have enjoyed it. He certainly would have enjoyed the result because, as he's said, he just wants to see a winning Hearts team more often than not. That's what we're all wanting.' McInnes smiled wryly when asked about Bloom's bullish comments in the 24 hours leading up to the match, but he said: 'I knew what Tony was going to say, I heard what you guys heard, absolutely no problem with it at all. 'There's so many people, including Tony, who are ambitious and want Hearts to be successful at the club. He's obviously come in with a fresh pair of eyes and came out and shot for exactly what he wants. 'We're trying to make progress and I think we can make progress. Where Tony and others and myself think we can bridge the gap and maybe try and get ahead of others is the confidence they have in the recruitment.' McInnes felt he had 'a team screaming to win the game of football there, absolutely busting'. 'For sheer commitment, guts, effort, I thought we were 10 out of 10,' he said. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin conceded the better team won. 'We had an idea of how we were going to take on the game today in the first half with the ball, and we didn't succeed in that,' he said. 'Hearts put good pressure on us, and then they win these second balls and create a momentum with the crosses. They were better in the first half. 'I think in the second half we got better with the ball and started creating some chances in their box, but we were not really clinical. We were not really there.'
