Women's Champions League: Rangers to meet Benfica in play-off
- Published
Rangers clinched their first SWPL1 title in May, ending Glasgow City's 14-year grip
Rangers manager Malky Thomson thinks beating Benfica to reach the Women's Champions League group stage is "achievable" and hopes the first leg of their play-off can be played at Ibrox.
The Scottish champions, who were unseeded for Thursday's draw, will be at home on 20/21 September, with the second leg in Lisbon a week later.
Benfica reached the group stage for the first time last season.
"We're really excited - I think we have confidence and belief," Thomson said.
"They're probably at a similar level as we are, so we're really happy with the tie."
"We have a real squad of youth players and experienced players. We have competition in the squad as well, so we're in a good place, we're positive."
Benfica lost just one match on their way to a second successive Campeonato Nacional Feminino title last season, while they beat Sporting CP 4-1 to win the Supertaca Cup last week but do not start their domestic league campaign until 11 September.
In the first round of Champions League qualifying, the Portuguese overcame EP-Com Hajvalia of Kosovo and Dutch side Twente.
Benfica are currently ranked 37th in Europe, 23 places behind Glasgow City, whose 14 years as Scottish champions was ended by Rangers as they won the title for the first time.
Rangers beat Ferencvaros of Hungary and PAOK of Greece in the first-round group stage to make the play-off and Thomson said: "The excitement of getting through has really driven us forward."
His team have won their opening four league matches and sit top of the Scottish Women's Premier League table on goal difference from both Celtic and Glasgow City.
Rangers this season started using the 8,000 capacity Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld as their home ground, but Thomson is hopeful that this home tie could be moved to the larger Ibrox after playing there for the first time against Aberdeen in April.
"It would be something special, but that will come down to the operations teams to see whether it's feasible or not," he added. "We were very fortunate that we managed to play Aberdeen at Ibrox - it was a great day and I think there was 4000 of a crowd there. Ibrox would be a fantastic venue."