Europa League

Who could Rangers face in the Europa League playoffs?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 10 December 2021

Sports Mole looks at who Rangers could face in the Europa League playoff round, with some of Europe's biggest names being potential opponents.

Rangers have ensured a second successive season in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, booking their place in the new playoff round courtesy of finishing second in Group A.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men finished one point clear of Sparta Prague and six ahead of Brondby to secure second place behind Lyon, with the French side securing their passage straight through to the last 16.

Rangers themselves still have work to do to join them there, though, as they go into the playoff round against the eight teams to have dropped into the competition from the Champions League.

As such, some of Europe's biggest names could lie in wait for the Glasgow outfit when the competition resumes in the New Year, including the prospect of a showdown with Spanish giants Barcelona - a team they have faced twice before, drawing once and losing once.

Rangers have a much better record against another of the big boys to have entered the competition, having won three and lost just one of their eight previous meetings with Borussia Dortmund.

The Scottish champions have also won three and lost one against Porto - this time from six previous contests - but have a losing record against the other two possible opponents they have faced before.

Rangers have lost three of their four previous fixtures against Sevilla, while they also lost their only previous game against Zenit St Petersburg.

All eight of the teams to have dropped down from the Champions League are possible opponents due to none of them being Scottish, which means that RB Leipzig and Atalanta BC could also be on the table.

The kindest draw on paper looks like Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol, although they did claim the memorable scalp of Real Madrid in the Champions League and so could be a team to be wary of too.

The draw will take place in Nyon on Monday at 12pm GMT - you can find out everything you need to know about the new Europa League playoff round and the draw by clicking here.