Gers learn Euro opponents
01 Jul 2008 - 11:42:09
Rangers will face either Santa Coloma or FBK Kaunas in the second qualifying round after the draw was made for the opening stages of the Champions League.
The Ibrox club were paired with either a side from Andorra or Lithuania at the draw in UEFA's headquarters in Nyon.
The Scottish Premier League runners-up were seeded for the draw and therefore avoided being paired with the likes of last year's quarter-finalists Fenerbahce from Turkey or Greek giants Olympiacos.
The second round of qualifying will begin with a first leg tie on July 29, but Rangers will also need to safely negotiate a further third round of qualifying in order to reach the lucrative group stages.
Speaking last month, Gers boss Walter Smith claimed their participation in the early stages of qualifying would not have a negative effect on his pre-season plans.
He said: "Our pre-season is very similar to last year and we felt that was an excellent preparation.
"A couple of weeks of training supplies the running and the hard work that has to be done.
"We'll then play our three friendlies abroad and a few more at home and then we're straight into the Champions League qualifiers after that."