Rangers discover Champions League play-off opponents after seeing off Viktoria Plzen
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RANGERS are just one tie away from securing their place in the main phase of the Champions League.
It's been an up and down start to Russell Martin's campaign so far having failed to win either of his first two domestic games in charge.
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Rangers are through to the Champions League play-off
Credit: Getty
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Lyall Cameron scored in Czech Republic to keep their Champions League dreams alive
Credit: Getty
The same can't be said for the team's European exploits, though, as the Light Blues have now seen off Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen to progress to the play-off - their third and final qualifier for the competition.
Rangers were in the driving seat for the second leg in Czech Republic after beating Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox last week.
And they got the job done tonight away from home - despite losing on the night.
Plzen opened the scoring in the first leg through Rafiu Durosinmi and pressure was beginning to mount on the visitors in the second half - until Lyall Cameron found the net on the hour mark.
The former Dundee man scored his first goal for the club - and what a time it was to get off the mark as he eased Rangers' nerves.
The hosts then scored again to put themselves back in front through Svetozar Markovic with less than 10 minutes left to play, but didn't have enough time to turn the tie around.
That meant it was Rangers who progressed as they move one step closer to reaching the league phase.
Rangers were already aware that they'd face one of two teams in the play-off after the draw was made earlier this month.
It was decided that the Light Blues would face a tricky tie either way against Club Brugge or Red Bull Salzburg.
It was always going to be a tough clash, but they avoided arguably the trickiest outcome - with Benfica a potential option for the Govan side.
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Now Rangers have discovered exactly who they'll face in the next round.
Martin's men will travel to Belgium later this month after Club Brugge got the better of Red Bull Salzburg over two legs.
Club Brugge were the favourites to progress after they beat Salzburg 1-0 in the first leg away from home.
But it was the Austrian side who took the driving seat in the return leg as they raced two goals in front in the first half.
Goals from Jacob Rasmussen and Edmund Baidoo gave them the lead in the tie - until Brugge pulled it back in the second half.
The hosts on the night came on top in the end with a 4-2 aggregate win after Joaquin Seys, Carlos Forbs and Hans Vanaken found the net.
The first leg will be played at Ibrox on Tuesday, August 19, with the return leg scheduled for the following Wednesday, August 27 in Belgium.
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