Today, Rangers will find out their Europa League opponents for the play-off round with a lot of anticipation around.
It’s a happy Monday for the Rangers supporters following Sunday’s great win at Tynecastle comes this draw with the Scottish champions almost guaranteed a glamour tie. There is also the game against St Johnstone just around the corner on Wednesday as the games keep on coming thick and fast in December.
Here is everything you need to know:
What is the Europa League play-off ?
With the changes to the Europa League this season, 16 teams are involved at this stage. The group winners proceed to the Last 16 stage but before that, the second placed teams from the group will meet with the third placed sides from the Champions League groups.
In effect, this play-off round takes place of what was the Last 32.
When is the Europa League play-off draw?
The draw takes place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland at 12 noon (UK time) today.
How can I watch the draw?
It will be streamed live on UEFA’s Europa League website as well as the official social media channels.
Which teams are involved in the Europa League play-off draw?
There are 16 teams in the draw: the eight runners-up from the UEFA Europa League group stage will be seeded; the eight third-placed teams from the UEFA Champions League group stage will be unseeded.
Seeded teams – Betis, Braga, Dinamo Zagreb, Lazio, Napoli, Olympiacos, Rangers, Real Sociedad.
Unseeded teams – Atalanta, Barcelona, Dortmund, Leipzig, Porto, Sevilla, Sheriff, Zenit.
When will the Europa League play-off games take place?
The games are scheduled to take place on 17th and 24th February with the seeded teams having home advantage for the second leg.
Also, teams from the same country cannot be drawn against each other at this stage.