RANGERS made history when Walter Smith’s side played in the first ever Champions League group stage back in 1992-93.
Now Philippe Clement’s side are bidding to join the competition‘s biggest revamp since then.
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There’s a new look to Europe‘s top continental competition, with Uefa giving the tournament a fresh format in light of the failed European SuperLeague bid.
That’s seen some big changes with some BIG money at stake.
And Gers will want to be part of it.
Celtic have already booked their spot by winning the Premiership title last season.
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They can sit tight for another few weeks while the other teams fight it out to join them and Europe’s big guns in the competition proper.
Munich lies in wait for the finalists – a long way away just now on May 31, 2025.
Rangers will find out who they face this week.
The first qualifying rounds are already in progress, and here are the details you need to know before the draw for the next stages are made in Nyon.
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Which stage will Rangers enter the Champions League this season?
- Rangers are among the teams entering in the third qualifying round.
- That means Philippe Clement’s team have two rounds – so four games – before they make it to the new group stage.
- Rivals Celtic, as SPFL winners, go straight into the new 36-team group stage
When is the draw for the Champions League third qualification round?
- The Champions League is already underway and the first qualifying round complete.
- The draw for the third stage of qualifying – involving Rangers – will be held TOMORROW (Monday, July 22).
- It takes place in the Nyon, Switzerland at 11am UK time.
- Uefa will release details of the draw and procedure at 7.30am
- Gers and their opponents will also enter the play-off draw NEXT Monday (August 5)
Are Rangers seeded? Who could they face?
- Rangers will almost certainly be seeded for their first draw.
- Philippe Clement’s side will be paired against one of the winners of the second qualifying round which kicks off on Tuesday.
- The second qualifying round is currently as follows:
- PFC Ludogorets 1945 vs FC Dinamo Minsk
- APOEL FC vs FC Petrocub
- Ferencvárosi TC vs The New Saints FC
- PAOK FC vs FK Borac Banja Luka
- FK Bodø/Glimt vs FC RFS
- Malmö FF vs KÍ Klaksvík
- Shamrock Rovers FC vs AC Sparta Praha
- UE Santa Coloma vs FC Midtjylland
- NK Celje vs ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK
- FK Panevėžys vs Jagiellonia Białystok
- Lincoln Red Imps FC vs Qarabağ FK
- Fotbal Club FCSB vs Maccabi Tel Aviv FC
- FC Lugano vs Fenerbahçe SK
- FC Dynamo Kyiv vs FK Partizan
- If they can come through that they will meet a tougher test in the play-off round to reach the promised land of the Champions League itself in September.
Can I watch the draw live?
Uefa often stream the draws live on the official Youtube channel and at Uefa.com
As yet no announcement has been made if the third qualifying draw will be streamed.
However Uefa will make further draw announcements on the website at 7.30am BST
When are the games to be played?
- Rangers enter the third round of qualifying.
- These matchdates are August 6/7 and August 13
- Before then though Rangers will be entered into the play-off round draw along with their third round opponents which takes place on August 5.
- Play-off game dates, if applicable, are on August 20/21 and 27/28 with the draw the new-look league stage draw the following day.
What is the new Champions League format?
Celtic have already qualified for the lucrative group stages – or league phase – as Uefa have been calling it.
Rangers – one of the eight formative entrants to the Champions league and represented on the iconic starball logo – are hoping to join them.
There will be TWO extra games than usual.
Rather than three teams home and away, clubs will face eight different opponents with four home matches and the same away from home.
The fixtures will be drawn from four seeded pots – with teams playing against two opponents from each.
Rather than individual groups, they will all be ranked in a single 36-team league ladder.
The top teams – who win the most games – are seeded into the knockout round of 16.
The next-best 16 clubs (finishing ninth to 24th) go into a play-off round to join them and the 12 remaining drop out.
Beyond that, it’s a straight knock-out to the final in Munich.
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When are the 2024/25 Champions League League stage matches?
- Matchday 1: 17–19 September 2024
- Matchday 2: 1/2 October 2024
- Matchday 3: 22/23 October 2024
- Matchday 4: 5/6 November 2024
- Matchday 5: 26/27 November 2024
- Matchday 6: 10/11 December 2024
- Matchday 7: 21/22 January 2025
- Matchday 8: 29 January 2025
When is the 2024/25 Champions League knockout stage?
- Knockout round play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February 2025
- Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March 2025
- Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2025
- Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2025
- Final: May 31, 2025
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
