Rangers will face either Dynamo Kiev or FK Partizan in the 2024-25 Champions League third qualifying round.
Dynamo Kiev and Partizan will lock horns over two legs in the second qualifying round, with the first leg to be staged at a neutral venue in Lublin, Poland on Tuesday.
The reverse fixture will then take place eight days later in Serbia and the winners of the two-legged affair will take on Rangers for a place in the playoff stage, with a spot in the new 36-team league format up for grabs.
That playoff draw will take place on August 5, before Rangers play the first leg of their third-round qualifier on August 6/7. Philippe Clement's side will then host the second leg at Ibrox on August 13.
Should Rangers lose their third qualifying round tie or suffer defeat in the playoff round, they will enter the Europa League group stage.
The Gers are gearing up for their fourth successive third-round qualifier in the Champions League and have had mixed success in the previous three seasons.
🆕 We will face FC Dynamo Kyiv or FK Partizan in the @ChampionsLeague third qualifying round.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 22, 2024
#UCL pic.twitter.com/uhCTXyQI2X
Rangers have qualified for CL group stage in only one of last 12 seasons
Indeed, Rangers were beaten in the third qualifying round by Malmo in the 2021-22 campaign, before victory over Union SG at the same stage 12 months later was followed by a 3-2 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the playoff round to qualify for the Champions League group stage.
PSV got their revenge last season, though, as they thumped Rangers by a 7-3 aggregate scoreline in the playoff round after the Gers had beaten Servette 3-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.
Clement's men had to settle for Europa League football in 2023-24 and progressed to the last 16 where they were beaten by Benfica 3-2 on aggregate.
Like Dynamo Kiev and Partizan, Rangers finished as runners-up in their league last season, eight points behind eventual Scottish Premiership champions and rivals Celtic.
The Gers, who have lost their opening two pre-season friendlies this summer against Ajax and Manchester United, will begin their 2024-25 domestic campaign away against Hearts in the Scottish top flight on August 3, three or four days before the first leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier.
Oliver Thomas
