Rangers, Hibs & Dundee Utd find out potential Euro opponents

Rangers' Russell Martin, Hibernian's David Gray and Dundee United's Jim Goodwin lead their sides into Europe

Rangers have been drawn against Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic or Servette of Switzerland in the Champions League third qualifying round should they defeat Panathinaikos.

If Russell Martin's side lose to the Greeks, they face an equally difficult tie in the Europa League third qualifying round after they were drawn against either Besiktas of Turkey or Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.

Should Hibernian defeat Midtjylland in their Europa League second qualifying round tie, they will take on Fredrikstad of Norway in the next stage.

Lose to the Danes and David Gray's side will take on Oleksandriya of Ukraine or Partizan Beograd of Serbia for a place in the Conference League play-offs.

Dundee United also learned who they will face should they defeat Luxembourg minnows UNA Strassen in their Conference League second qualifying round tie.

Progress as expected and Jim Goodwin's side will take on either Decic of Montenegro or Rapid Vienna of Austria.

Seasoned campaigners await Rangers

Rangers face seasoned European campaigners if they are to reach the play-off stage of either the Champions League or Europa League.

Should they overcome Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round, Russell Martin's side will face one of two teams who, like themselves, finished distant runners-up in their domestic leagues last season - Viktoria to Slavia Prague and Servette to Basel.

Viktoria finished 16th in the Europa League last season - eight places behind Rangers - before losing to Lazio in the last 16.

However, they defeated Hearts to reach the new league stage, winning both legs of their play-off round tie 1-0.

The previous season, Viktoria reached the Conference League quarter finals, losing to Fiorentina.

They last reached the Champions League three seasons ago, losing all their games in a group containing, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Rangers defeated Servette at the same, third qualifying round, stage of the Europa League in 2023, 3-2 on aggregate.

The Swiss were beaten by Braga in Europa League qualifying last season before losing narrowly to eventual winners Chelsea in the Conference League play-off round.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas were fourth in the Turkish Super Lig last season and finished a disappointing 28th in the Europa League.

Shakhtar, who have suffered by being homeless in recent seasons due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, were 27th in the Champions League last season and have already had to come through one round of Europa League qualifying - beating Ilves of Finland 6-0 on aggregate.

Hibs have it better in Europa League

Hibs probably have an easier passage in the Europa League should they beat Midtjylland than if they drop to the Conference League.

Fredrikstad, who were promoted back to Norway's top flight in 2023, are currently sitting mid-table eighth in the 2025 Eliteserien after finishing sixth last season.

They are in European football for the first time in 15 years and have not won a tie in nine attempts since beating Ajax in their debut in the European Cup back in 1960-61, when they were last league champions.

Drop to the Conference League and the Leith side could have Oleksandriya, who were runners-up behind Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukraine top flight but ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk.

That was their best finish since they were last crowned champions in 2015, since when they have been in the Europa League three times, reaching the group stage once, in 2019-20.

Partizan, meanwhile, were distant runners-up to city rivals Red Star Belgrade and have dropped down from the Europa League after losing to Larnaka of Cyprus on penalties and will hope to reach the Conference League for the second time, having made the group stage in 2022-23.

Potential hazards for United

United will not have it easy should they defeat Strassen as expected.

Potential opponents Rapid, who were fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga, reached the Conference League quarter-finals last season, losing to Djurgårdens of Sweden.

Although Decic have only qualified for European competition for the fourth time having finished fourth in Montenegrin First League, they were champions for the first time the previous season.

They also won their domestic cup for the first time last season and have already beaten Sileks of North Macedonia to reach the second qualifying round.

Selected ties

Champions League, third qualifying round

Rangers or Panathinaikos (Greece) v Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) or Servette (Switzerland)

Shkendija (North Madedonia) or FCSB (Romania) v Shelbourne (Republic of Ireland) or Qarabag (Azerbaijan)

Europa League, third qualifying round

Fredrikstad (Norway) v Midtjylland (Denmark) or Hibernian

Rangers or Panathinaikos v Besiktas (Turkey) or Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Rijeka (Croatia) or Ludogorets 1945 (Bulgaria) v Shelbourne or Qarabag

Conference League, third qualifying round

Ballkani (Kosovo) or Floriana (Malta) v St Joseph's (Gibraltar) or Shamrock Rovers (Republic of Ireland)

Decic (Montenegro) or Rapid Vienna (Austria) v Dundee United or Strassen (Luxembourg)

Ilves (Finland) or AZ Alkmaar v Vaduz (Liechtenstein) or Dungannon Swifts

Larne or Prishtina (Kosovo) v Varazdin (Croatia) or Santa Clara (Portugal)

Oleksandriya (Ukraine) or Partizan Beograd (Serbia) v Hibernian or Midtjylland

The New Saints or Differdange 03 (Luxembourg) v Levadia (Estonia)

St Patrick's Athletic (Republic of Ireland) or Nomme Kalju (Estonia) v Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk

Víkingur (Iceland) v Zalgiris (Lithuania) or Linfield