Rangers handed tricky test in Champions League qualifier, while Hibs and Dundee United also learn their first European opponents

Daily Mail​

a day ago

Russell Martin faces a stern early test as Rangers manager after his side were paired with Greek giants Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round.
Seeded for the draw, the Ibrox men could have faced Swiss side Servette or Norwegians Brann but instead drew the side with the highest European club ranking.
Like Rangers, Panathinaikos finished second in their domestic league last season, ending up 12 points behind champions Olympiacos.
The Athens side, who play at the Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium, have never lost to Scottish opponents over 90 minutes in their seven meetings to date.
But Rangers still have good memories of their last tie with them in the UEFA Cup back in 2007-08 - progressing on away goals in the last 32 to take them a step closer to that year's final.
Although Panathinaikos have won the Greek title on 20 occasions, the last of those came back in 2010.
The following season was the last occasion when they made it to the Champions League group stage.
Last season, they started in Europa League qualifying, beating Botev Plovdiv but losing to Ajax on penalties before qualifying for the Conference League by defeating Slavia Prague and Lens.
They lost 4-1 at home to eventual winners Chelsea and eventually finished 13th in the group, before beating Vikingur Reykjavik in the knockout phase then losing to Fiorentina in the last 16.
Managed by Portuguese Rui Vitoria, a former Benfica boss, their star man is veteran Serbian international forward Filip Duricic.
As things stand, Martin's men will be at home first on 22/23 July with the second leg in Athens on 29/30 July.
While the Scottish Premiership season doesn't begin until August 2, the Greek Super League doesn't get underway until August 23.
The Champions League third round qualifying draw takes place on July 21 with just two hurdles remaining to make the 36-team group stage. If Rangers go out, they will jump into the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Rangers haven't been in the Champions League since the ill-fated campaign under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in 2022-23 when they lost all six games.
Their hopes of getting back last year under Philippe Clement were ended by Dynamo Kyiv.
The team dropped into the Europa League and made it as far as the last eight under Barry Ferguson only to be eliminated by Athletic Bilbao.
Hibs were also handed a tough draw in their quest to make the group stage of the Europa League when they were paired with FC Midtjylland in the second qualifying round.
The Danish side only finished second to FC Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga by a point last year having won it in 2024.
Their last clash with a Scottish team came in 2021-22 when they beat Ange Postecoglou's Celtic on aggregate in a Champions League qualifier.
Midtjylland lost out to Slovan Bratislava in last season's Champions League play-off round and dropped into the Europa League.
Having finished 20th, they made it to the knockout round play-off where they lost to Real Sociedad.
The first leg of the tie will be played on July 24 in Denmark, with the return leg the following week at Easter Road.
Dundee United were handed a more favourable assignment when the draw was made for the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
Jim Goodwin's side learned they will face Luxembourg minnows FC UNA Strassen with the first keg at Tannadice on July 24 and the return in the 1500-capacity Complexe Sportif Jean Wirtz a week later.
UNA Strassen, who finished second in their division last year, have only ever played one European tie in their history - a 5-0 aggregate defeat to Finns KuPS last season.
Celtic face a play-off round to reach the Champions League with Brendan Rodgers set to learn his side's fate on August 4.