logo
🚨 BREAKING: Rangers learn potential opponents for UCL qualifying round

🚨 BREAKING: Rangers learn potential opponents for UCL qualifying round

Yahoo21-07-2025
Rangers will face either FC Viktoria Plzeň of the Czech Republic or Swiss side Servette FC in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, should they overcome Panathinaikos in their second round tie.
UEFA confirmed the draw on Monday, mapping out the next step on the Gers road back to the Champions League group stages.
The third qualifying round represents the penultimate hurdle, with the play-off round to follow for successful sides.
The first leg of Rangers' tie against Panathinaikos is set to take place at Ibrox this week, with the return in Athens the following week.
Both Viktoria Plzeň and Servette have recent European pedigree, with Plzeň having competed in the group stages of the Champions League as recently as 2022. Servette, runners-up in the Swiss Super League, will also pose a significant challenge should Rangers meet them.
The third qualifying round ties are scheduled for 6–7 and 13 August. Should Rangers reach that stage, they would have home advantage in the second leg, depending on UEFA scheduling.
Rangers last reached the Champions League group stage in the 2022–23 season and will be determined to return to Europe's top table. Supporters will now be keeping a close eye on both ties, with the route to the play-off round now in sharper focus.
📸 Stu Forster - 2022 Getty Images
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Liverpool make MOMENTOUS Conor Bradley decision
Liverpool make MOMENTOUS Conor Bradley decision

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Liverpool make MOMENTOUS Conor Bradley decision

Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold was a prospect Liverpool fans feared for a long time. As the defender's contract ticked down, it appeared inevitable that he would decline a new deal and sign for Real Madrid. As it transpired, that is EXACTLY what happened. After 20 years in red, the right-back moved on to the Bernabeu - leaving his Liverpool legacy in pieces. Losing a world-class, homegrown talent was no doubt a bitter blow. But Liverpool haven't missed a beat in the quest to replace Trent. LFC x adidas Shop the home range today! LFC x adidas Shop the goalkeeper range today LFC x adidas Shop the new adidas range today! Frimpong and Bradley are Liverpool's new options They have signed Jeremie Frimpong - with the Dutchman capable of playing right-back, right wing-back, right midfield and right wing. The 24-year-old possesses quality in several positions and presents too big an attacking threat to be described merely as a right back. And don't forget Conor Bradley. The loss of Trent could have been so much worse were it not for the presence of the young Northern Irishman. The 21-year-old has established himself as one of the best young full-backs around over the last 18 months or so. Liverpool have got faith in Bradley Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot had no qualms about throwing Bradley in at the deep end when Trent was unavailable. No doubt he softens the blow of losing Alexander-Arnold and he ensures continuity in the right-back position for years to come. Liverpool's faith in Bradley for the long term has been demonstrated by the awarding of new contract - inked shortly after the end of the season. Bradley is going nowhere and now comes the Reds' latest demonstration of their belief in him. Bradley earns Liverpool promotion Having worn 84 for the duration of his Liverpool first-team career thus far, Bradley has been given a stunning promotion. The club have now commenced their new, 10-year kit deal with Adidas and a raft of squad number changes have also been announced. Bradley will now wear the No12 - most recently worn by Joe Gomez and also made famous by another Champions League winner in Sami Hyypia.

Shahar relishing South Shields test
Shahar relishing South Shields test

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Shahar relishing South Shields test

United's second-string were held to a 1-1 draw against their Hull City counterparts in their opening pre-season fixture of the 2025/26 season last weekend and face the Mariners, who compete in the National League North, at the 1st Cloud Arena. Shahar, who was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time during Newcastle United's 2-1 home win against Brentford in April, is one of a handful of Academy products to have trained with Eddie Howe's side, travelling to Austria in the opening weeks of pre-season, and the teenage defender feels he is reaping the benefits of his involvement with the senior squad. The 18-year-old right-back told "I started the first week of pre-season with the first-team and I feel like it's a good way to get into the pre-season flow. Being with the first-team, it gets you fit as fast as possible to be ready for the season. "I've had two games now, one with the first-team and then with the under-21s, drawing against Hull. It was good to get an opening of how my fitness levels are and I feel very good and happy with where everything is going. "To be in and around the first-team is going to benefit me. Training regularly with the squad is going to make me a better player as well as a person." Newcastle's youngsters face the Mariners in a pre-season fixture last season, with teenage winger Johnny Emerson on target in a 1-1 draw for the young Magpies in front of over 1,400 spectators. Shahar, who has captained England at under-18 level, is looking forward to another encounter against senior opposition after featuring in the Magpies' behind-closed-doors win against Carlisle United last month, playing the first-half of a 4-0 win against the Cumbrians. "Playing against men's teams is good as a younger player because that's where you strive to get to," Shahar added. "It's good to get those kinds of different challenges to help my development. "As a younger side playing against senior opposition, we'll have to be smart (against South Shields) in the way we play as we can't always go toe-to-toe with them due to their physicality but it will show the level we're at and how we've done during pre-season. It will be a good test." Kyle Crossley, who joined South Shields from United last summer after a four-year spell at Newcastle's Academy, will not feature in Sunday's friendly as the 21-year-old winger suffered a multi ligament injury after colliding with an opposition player during a pre-season friendly against Carlisle. Shahar offered sympathy to his former teammate, along with the Magpies' second-string squad, ahead of what will be a prolonged period on the sidelines. He added: "I heard the news and I was devastated for Kyle. He's a great lad and was a good character around the training ground whilst he was at the Academy. It's disappointing for him and, hopefully, we put on a good game for him. "It's part of football but it's never nice to sustain a big injury like that so all the lads were sorry for him and we had a chat about how good of a person he is." Tickets for Newcastle United Under-21s' pre-season friendly away at South Shields on Sunday, 3rd August can be purchased here.

Dak Prescott's memorable offseason conversation helped prepare Cowboys' new LT Nate Thomas
Dak Prescott's memorable offseason conversation helped prepare Cowboys' new LT Nate Thomas

New York Times

time32 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Dak Prescott's memorable offseason conversation helped prepare Cowboys' new LT Nate Thomas

OXNARD, Calif. — Nate Thomas vividly remembers the conversation from back in the spring. He was doing some rehab work at The Star when he had a conversation with Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott remembers it as well. 'He told me, 'You need to be ready when your number is called,' ' Thomas said this week. ' 'This is not like you're just easing back in.' He told me straight up, 'You need to be ready.' I just took that in stride and just made sure I go about every day knowing that I need to treat this as if I'm a starter, because you never know when your number is called. And here I am right now.' Advertisement Thomas has spent the last two training camp practices as the Cowboys' first-team left tackle, a result of starting left tackle Tyler Guyton suffering a bone fracture and knee sprain during Monday's practice. Guyton could be back just in time for the season opener on Sept. 4. However, if he's not, all signs point to Thomas getting the start that Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Cowboys OL Nate Thomas (71) continues working as the starting left tackle in place of Tyler Guyton (knee) — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 31, 2025 Prescott was around Thomas during the offseason while the 6-5, 330-pound offensive lineman was working his way back from the knee injuries that cost him his rookie season. Thomas had surgery to repair a slight tear of his patellar tendon and knee tendinitis. Prescott was working his way back from his surgically-repaired hamstring. 'Understanding the talent and athleticism that I saw then,' Prescott said, 'I started telling Nate, 'Nate, you can play. You've got the tools. You've got the intangibles.' This game is about confidence. I was trying to pour it into him then, not knowing that he'd have an opportunity a week and a half into camp to start running with the ones and showcasing his ability.' Thomas started 25 games at left tackle during his final two years at Louisiana. He was then drafted in the seventh round by the Cowboys last year, the same draft class that saw Dallas select Guyton in the first round. Dane Brugler, The Athletic's NFL Draft expert, had a fifth-round grade on Thomas entering last year's draft. 'His punch has some heft behind it, and his recoil allows for quick resets to go a few rounds,' Brugler wrote in his annual 'The Beast' draft guide. 'Stays after his blocks and doesn't noticeably take plays off regardless of the situation. Relatively young for his class, and it feels like there is untapped potential still there for a fifth-year senior.' Advertisement The Cowboys initially decided that Thomas would be a better fit as a powerful guard. But that changed this offseason under new head coach and offensive play-caller Brian Schottenheimer. 'Just watching Nate work and prepare this offseason,' Schottenheimer said, 'and seeing him train, and seeing the length and the size he has and his feet for a 330-plus pound man, it was probably the second or third day of OTAs where we were like, 'Hey, we need to put him outside and see what he can do.' 'When we watched him that very first day, we were like, 'Whoa.' It literally jumped off the film. We were like, 'OK, hmm.' And if you talk to Nate he's like, 'Hey Coach, I'll play wherever, but I'm probably most comfortable playing left tackle.' That's kind of what he has the most experience playing. It did jump off the film to us when we moved him out and then we were like let's leave him out there for a while, because sometimes with a young player they're all going to be moved around and have to be put in spots to learn and have to have flexibility. 'But when we moved him out there, we were like let's let him focus on one spot for a while. And I think that helped him with his confidence. Of course now he's getting the opportunity to run with the ones and I think he'll do a great job in that role.' Cowboys LT Nate Thomas working next to All-Pro LG Tyler Smith — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Thomas' strength has been noticeable. He'll likely get plenty of work in the preseason games to showcase what he can really do in the run game when teams are actually tackling to the ground. 'He's country strong for real,' Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele said. 'He's got some really good power behind him. He wants this. He's hungry.' There was some buzz about Thomas when camp opened. He was a player the team felt was trending in the right direction and could provide valuable depth. When Guyton went down, the organization feared he could be lost for the season with a torn ACL. If that had been the case, maybe they would've gone in a different direction at left tackle. But under the current situation, Thomas appears to be the obvious replacement. Advertisement 'It just takes time,' Thomas said. 'Rome wasn't built in a day. It just took time, constant reps, going through OTAs, minicamp and then doing extra meeting time with the coaches. It just helped me continuously know what I'm doing and then build the confidence day in and day out. Just knowing I can go out there and get the job done.' The coaches didn't officially tell him he was going to be working with the starters. But they had him with the first-team in the mock game before practice Wednesday. He remained in that spot throughout Wednesday's practice in shells and Thursday's practice in full pads. Even with Micah Parsons not practicing because of his contract situation, Thomas should continue to get valuable work against a talented edge rusher group that includes Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams. 'Super proud of what he's done and the approach,' Prescott said. 'It goes back to the spring of us training and rehabbing. Some days were tougher, and watching him push through it and give his best to now watch him walk out there confident, make plays, super proud of him. And he's a Louisiana kid, so I'm always going to push for him.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store