Rangers learn Champions League draw fate as Russell Martin's first opponent revealed
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IT'S a new era at Rangers - and it will all begin for Russell Martin with the white knuckle ride which is the Champions League qualifiers.
And for the former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton boss, who was appointed earlier this month, that means a tough opener against Panathinaikos.
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Rangers have learned their second qualifying round date
Credit: EPA
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Rangers chief Russell Martin
Credit: PA
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The Champions League trophy
Credit: Getty
The first leg will be at Ibrox with Gers facing a trip to Greece for the second leg.
Greek giants Panathinaikos were perhaps the toughest of the three sides Rangers could have faced.
They haven't met since Walter Smith's side squeezed past the Greeks at the last 16 phase as they went on to book their spot in the Uefa Cup final in Manchester.
And a tough visit to Athens so early in Martin's tenure will be a major challenge right off the bat.
Rangers' sizeable Uefa five-year coefficient gives them seeding at both this stage and the third round if they can make it that far - although they WON'T be protected at the playoff round.
Scotland's dropping co-efficient means BOTH halves of the Old Firm have to pre-qualify to make it into the reshaped Champions League this season.
Celtic enter at the play-off round stage in the 'Champions path' - as they look to improve on their agonising knockout round playoff defeat to Bayern Munich.
Even if they don't make it all the way to the Champions League, victory in their opening tie will be crucial for Rangers.
As it stands they have NO guarantee of group stage football in Europe this season.
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It's another explosive edition of the Hotline as Ryan McDonald mans the buzzing phone lines The more things change, the more they stay the same. A new manager, new players and even new owners have checked into Ibrox. But Rangers fans are witnessing the same story unfold as Celtic charge ahead early on in the title race. Two games in and four points behind their old pals across the city. It's not the start Russell Martin would've envisioned, and already, fans are calling for his head. Peter Cooperwhite said: "Well, here we go again, deja vu. We haven't progressed under Russell Martin and to be honest, beat an average Panathinaikos. "We beat Plzen in the first leg but that glossed over something. Back to normality - can't follow up at home with a league win. "I think he's out of his depth big time. Players can't grasp his style of play, nor can the fans. He's not an upgrade to Warburton or Beale. "Barry had dross to pick from and got a good bit out of them. 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But the man himself remains defiant: "I would bet money that both Panathinaikos and Plzen would beat Celtic over two legs. "Their deluded fans love to remind us about their UCL wins vs the likes of Barcelona, Man Utd and Milan, but they were just one-off games in the group stages. "Celtic didn't knock any of these teams out of the competition. In the grand scheme of things, they were just nights to tell the grandchildren about. "Any half-decent side can beat a big team, in a one-off game, with a noisy home crowd behind them." Across the city, we'll save the final point for Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, who said: "With Arne Engels once again warming the bench and his replacement Nygren seemingly cementing his place in midfield at a fraction of the price, it's easy to see why the Celtic board are reluctant to splash the cash. "The only reason fellow big signing Idah is being persevered with is there's no alternative. 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