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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

4 Champions League results Celtic and Rangers fans need to keep an eye out for with group stage countdown on

Rangers fans will be hoping to see their side join Celtic in the Champions League group stage with the elite clubs in Europe counting down the days until the draw.

Ange Postecoglou has guaranteed group stage football after lifting the Scottish Premiership title last season, while their city rivals will need a big performance at Ibrox in the second leg of the third round qualifier against Union Saint Gilloise to keep their hopes of facing the top clubs in the world alive. However, Gio van Bronckhorst has shown he is capable of masterminding a big result in Europe having completed turnarounds against Braga and RB Leipzig in the Europa League last term.

If Rangers can navigate the qualifying rounds, they would join Celtic in pot 4. However, there is plenty of clubs across Europe looking looking to make their mark on the Champions League and that could have an impact on the seedings and opponents of the Glasgow giants.

Should Rangers turn the tie around against USG there is an opportunity of the club moving to pot 3, but that will be dictated by FC Midtjylland vs Benfica. The Portuguese side hold a 4-1 lead before the second leg in Denmark in the third round qualifier.

There are currently seven teams all assured of a place in pot 3. Should Benfica reach the group stage they would go in as the eighth side given their superior coefficient points over their rivals.

They go into the clash with the Danes as heavy favourites to reach the play-off round. They will face the winner of FC Dynamo Kyiv vs SK Sturm Graz .

The Ukrainian side hold a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg in Austria. Rangers fans will be keeping an eye on the clash and who could provide a stern test to Roger Schmidt's side an added pot 3 incentive.

While the clash with USG will be massive, fans from the blue half of Glasgow will also be keeping tabs on Monaco vs PSV Eindhoven and their third qualifying round tie. Rangers fans will be hoping they face winner of the tie, with the score locked at 1-1 with the second leg taking place in the Netherlands.

Finally, Rangers vs Union Saint Gilloise will be a tie that all of Scottish football is watching on Tuesday - and it's not just Rangers' journey it could impact on. If the path to pot 3 becomes clear it could reshape Celtic's group.

The two Scottish sides cannot be drawn together if they both make the group stage for the first time since the since the 2007/08 season. Should that happen Celtic would face one of Borussia Dortmund, RB Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Napoli, Sporting or Bayer Leverkusen in Pot 3.

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