After a horror show in last season's Champions League group stage, Rangers will be desperate for a return in order to put things right this season.
However, Michael Beale’s men must first negotiate their third round qualifier and then a playoff round to reach the promised land. They managed it last year when Antonio Colak's goal in Eindhoven meant they scooped the £30million jackpot and joined Celtic against the big boys of European football.
Beale will see no reason why he can't replicate predecessor Giovanni van Bronckhorst's feat, but will hope to make a better fist of it if he does. The Gers ended the campaign with the unwanted record of the worst performing side in that stage of the competition’s history, failing to pick up a single point and shipping 22 goals, scoring just twice themselves. Who exactly they’ll face to try and get back at the top table remains to be seen when the draw takes place on July 24, but they do know their potential foes ahead of the second qualifying round ties.
Record Sport takes a look at how they have been shaping up over the summer.
Genk
The Belgians should have had sufficient time to catch their breath after what was an incredible end to the Pro League season. At differing points within five minutes on the final day, three of the Championship playoff round teams found themselves top of the pile. But it was perhaps Genk who suffered the most heartbreaking end. They were leading Royal Antwerp in stoppage time with one-hand on the title, until Toby Alderweireld found the top corner to stun The Smurfs and rip the championship from them.
Ahead of the new campaign, they’ve added Gambian winger Alieu Fadera. He’s joined in a €4million switch Zulte Waregem. They’ve also signed left back Joris Kayembe from top flight rivals Charleroi. Tanzanian forward Ally Samatta has returned to Fenerbahce at the end of his loan.
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Sturm Graz
After finishing second in the Austrian Bundesliga, Sturm Graz have added a couple of new faces so far this summer. Centre back Alexandar Borkovic has come in from Hoffenheim’s reserves for £500,000 after spending last season on loan, while 19-year old former Frankfurt keeper Mattero Bignetti has been signed on a free transfer.
Celtic flop Albian Ajeti won't be hanging around to potentially haunt Rangers. Sturm Graz passed on the option to sign the Swiss striker on a permanent basis and he has now returned to Glasgow, although is expected to be shipped out again soon enough.
Panathinaikos
Pipped to the Greek Super League title by city rivals AEK, Panathinaikos have been shopping abroad this summer. Attacking midfielder Fillip Djuricic as arrived from Sampdoria on a free, as compatriot Filip Mladenovic from Legia Warsaw. FC Copenhagen midfielder Zeca completes the transfer trio, returning to end his career with his boyhood club.
Defensive midfielder Dimitris Kourbellis was linked with Rangers earlier this year, instead joining Turkish outfit Trabzonspor. Zvonimir Svarlija has returned to Croatia with Hajduk Split on a free transfer.
Dnipro
The Ukrainian outfit face Panathinaikos in their second qualifying round tie. Ukrainian teams have enough to worry about given the situation there, but they've still managed to sign centre back Eduard Sarapiy from Metalist.
They've been sharing a stadium with the Kharkiv club since the start of last season. However, it remains to be seen where they will play their Champions League fixtures.
TSC Backa Topola
The Serbian club’s first ever foray into the Champions League after finishing second in the Serbian Super League. They must overcome Sturm Graz if they are to have a chance of facing Rangers.
They’ve been busy in the market in preparation though. Left winger Milos Pantovic has arrived from bg guns and previous Gers opponents Red Star Belgrade, as has attacking midfielder Petar Stanic.
The duo were signed for £500,000 combined, while a further £150,000 was spent on NikolaKuveljic from Wisla Krakow. Latvian right back Jovan Vlalukin, who faced Hearts in last year’s Europa Conference League group stage, is a free transfer acquisition as well.
Servette
Runners up in the Swiss Super League, Servette stand between Genk and a place in the third qualifying round. Congolese left back Bradley Mazikou is their big summer signing so far after spending £350,000 to bring him in from Aris in Greece. He's been joined by Danish starlet Alexander Lyng,who cost the same from FC Helsingor.
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