Rangers are guaranteed the parachute of Europa League group stage football if they are knocked out of the Champions League.
Michael Beale's men are looking to secure a seat at Europe's top table for the second season running beside rivals Celtic after reaching the competition proper last season after coming through the same process as this time around. Giovanni van Bronckhorst successfully navigated two two-legged ties and the new-look Beale side will need to do similar this time around. The Light Blues have already made six summer signings in the shape of Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers with Leon Balogun reported to be No7 as cover for the injured Leon King.
The Ibrox men will discover their first opponents on the Champions League qualifying journey on Monday, July 24 with the ties to be played over August 8/9 and August 15. The play-off round draw takes place the day before the first legs meaning Beale and Co would know the two opponents they'd need to overcome to reach the lucrative next stage.
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It's not all doom and gloom for Rangers though as UEFA confirmed details on how the competition works this season with the eliminated teams in the league path in the third qualifying round gaining direct entry to the Europa League proper. The same consolation is awarded should teams be knocked out in the play-off round meaning a fallback and guaranteed European group stage football up until Christmas will be heading for Ibrox before a ball is kicked.
The Europa League holds recent special memories for the men from Govan who agonisingly lost out on penalties to Bundesliga outfit Frankfurt in the Seville final back in May 2022.
Last season's Champions League campaign did not go to plan with Rangers losing all six games in the group and landing the 'worst ever' tag after scoring just two goals and conceding 22 for a goal difference of -20.
But with a new fresh look around the squad and management team this time around, they will be determined to get through the qualifying rounds and prove to everyone last year was a blip as they bid to compete with Europe's best in the top level club competition.
You can find all the UEFA details HERE.
