Three Scottish teams, Rangers, Kilmarnock, and St Mirren, are set to participate in the upcoming European qualifying draws. Rangers, who finished as runners-up in the Scottish Premiership, will be drawn in the Champions League third qualifying round draw league path. They will face tough competition from teams such as Twente, Union Saint-Gilloise, the winner of Lugano and Fenerbahce’s second qualifying round tie, or the winner of Dynamo Kyiv’s tie with Partizan Belgrade.
If Rangers fail to advance past the third qualifying round or the play-off round, they will enter the Europa League group stage for the second consecutive season. This provides them with another opportunity to make their mark on the European stage.
Kilmarnock, on the other hand, will face a challenging path in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League qualifying third qualifying rounds. They will be unseeded and drawn in both draws, with the winner remaining in the Europa League main path and the loser entering the Conference League main path. Their upcoming match against Cercle Bruges will be crucial in determining their fate.
Potential opponents for Kilmarnock or Cercle Bruges include the loser of the Dynamo Kyiv vs. Partizan Belgrade Champions League tie and Viktoria Plzen. The outcome of these matches will have a significant impact on Kilmarnock’s journey in European competition.
Meanwhile, St Mirren will also be involved in the Conference League third qualifying round. They will be unseeded and will face strong teams like Copenhagen, Gent, Legia Warsaw, and Hajduk Split. If they manage to overcome their Icelandic opposition, they will advance to the main path of the competition’s qualifying phase.
In total, there will be 13 ties in the Europa League third qualifying round, with six in the champions path. It is a highly competitive stage where teams must give their all to secure a spot in the next round.
Hearts, another Scottish team, will enter the Europa League at the play-off stage, guaranteeing them group stage football in either the Europa League or Conference League. The draw for the play-off stage will take place on 5 August, along with the Champions League and Conference League play-off draws.
Finally, Celtic, a prominent Scottish club, will feature in the Champions League group stage. The draw for this stage will take place on 29 August, just a day before the Europa League and Conference League group draws. This marks an exciting opportunity for Celtic to showcase their talent against top European clubs.
Overall, Scottish teams have a challenging road ahead in the European qualifying draws. The matches against tough opponents will test their skills and determination. However, if they can overcome these hurdles, they have the chance to make a significant impact in European competition and bring glory to Scottish football.