Europa League Draw: Rangers / Progrès Niederkorn v AEL Limassol / St Joseph's

[Frankie 8,151]

Is it still the same arrangement when if Team A gets drawn against Team B (with Team B having a lower coefficient), and if Team B wins the round - that they would then assume the coefficient points which are held by Team A for the draw of the next round? I seem to recall that was how UEFA ran this now.

 

So in essence, if we can get drawn against betters team in the first & second round - if we can get past these rounds then we may have a decent shout of being seeded for the third round.

 

Will still be a real challenge to make the group stages.

 

We're seeded for the first round so it will only be for the 2nd, 3rd and playoff rounds where that could possibly happen. The Europa League rules are in a cycle from 2015/16 until the end of this season so I assume the coefficient stuff you highlight will remain in place if that happened in the last two seasons.

[der Berliner 3,247]

Without tempting Fate (Fate, do you copy?!), the thrid quali round will be the main obstacle, with really good teams in the pot. That said, most of them might not be out of pre-season and well short of match sharpness ... unless they come from Scandinavia.

[Gaffer 1,665]

Without tempting Fate (Fate, do you copy?!), the thrid quali round will be the main obstacle, with really good teams in the pot. That said, most of them might not be out of pre-season and well short of match sharpness ... unless they come from Scandinavia.

 

That's true about their match sharpness, but it's still going to be really tough. I don't care though. I just want to see those big teams back at Ibrox again. We are unlikely to progress, but I wouldn't care so much if we got Milan or Villarreal or Marseille. What an occasion that would be.

 

I said on another thread a couple of weeks ago that my son and his friends are back to being interested in Rangers again. You can call that what you want, but kids (like many of us too) like to have something to shout about, and PC (with the support of the board) has given us all that again. It's no wonder the season tickets are selling so quickly.

[ian1964 10,416]

BIG ASK Stats show Rangers and St Johnstone face huge Europa League task to reach group stage from first qualifying round

 

The clubs would have to negotiate four rounds of ties to reach the Group Stages - three qualifying rounds and a play-off

 

RANGERS and St Johnstone face a Herculean task to reach the Europa League Group Stages ahead of Monday’s draw….just six teams out of a staggering total of 576 clubs have reached that stage from the first qualifying round.

 

The Ibrox side make an eagerly-anticipated return to European competition after a six year absence when they play in the Europa League.

 

And perennial European qualifiers Saints are also in the hat in Switzerland for the draw, with Aberdeen getting a bye to the second qualifying round.

 

Rangers and St Johnstone would have to negotiate four rounds of ties to reach the Group Stages – three qualifying rounds and a play-off.But history proves it’s near impossible to go all the way from the first qualifying rounds to the Group Stages.

 

UEFA have heavily favoured the teams from the big nations who only have to play a play-off round so much, it would take a footballing miracle to get past the four hurdles.

 

Last season, there were 96 teams who entered at the first qualifying round, but only Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Qabala made it through to the Group Stages.

 

In 2015/16, a bumper 102 sides entered and only Azerbaijani specialists Qabala and Rosenborg made it all the way to the Groups.

 

In the eight-year history of the Europa League and its qualifying rounds, only Fulham in 2011/12, Twente Enschede in 2012/13, Tromso in 2013/14 have also made it from the first round to the Group Stages.

 

Although Rosenborg and Qabala have remarkably managed it twice from a combined entry of 576 teams since the competition’s inception in 2009/10.

 

This season, there will be 100 teams in the first qualifying round. But it’s massively odds-on that very, very few of them will line up at the start of the Group Stages in September.

 

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/1155907/stats-show-rangers-and-st-johnstone-face-huge-europa-league-task-to-reach-group-stage-from-first-qualifying-round/

[Walterbear 557]

I'd prefer to avoid Scandinavian and ROI sides in early rounds. Half way through seasons and improving standards plus we will be a big scalp. Not ideal as we are getting to know each other. By the final qualifying round we should be in good shape to give most teams a decent game if they are still in pre season. Group stage qualification would be an exceptional achievement. It would be massive in terms of reconnecting with younger generations and getting our brand back out there. I suspect we will need 10-15 games before we really start to understand how effective the recruitment and gelling has been and what the possibilities are for the rest of the season. On paper everything is looking positive but would really like us to clinch the Dorrans and Walker deals as we definitely need a few Scots in the team who are also supporters.

[ian1964 10,416]

Europa League Draw Preview

 

ALMOST six years on since Rangers’ last competitive European outing, continental football returns to Ibrox this season in the shape of the Europa League.

 

https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/europa-league-draw-preview/

[Frankie 8,151]

Ealry days yet but going by yesterday's friendly and the current unavailability of yet to arrive players, then the following team looks likely for the opening game two weeks time...

 

[pete 2,499]

Bates and Cordoso looked pretty shaky yesterday the Coleraine strikers got passed them pretty easily on a few occasions.

[Bearman 9]

This is a guide to the sides that Rangers can be drawn against in the Europa League. There are two draws tomorrow, one for QR1 then other to follow for QR2.

 

This guide is completely and utterly useless btw until the draw has actually made then it may become a little useful for some folk as you'll be able to look at the recent European history of the club(s) we will meet.

 

Unseeded clubs (50)

 

Wales (3 sides in the draw)

 

Bala Town. Played in EL QR1 last season, fell at the first hurdle to Swedish side AIK 0-4 on agg.

Connah's Quay. Last year was the clubs 1st ever European campaign, QR1 beat Stabak (Norway) 1-0 over 2 legs before losing out 1-3 to Vojvodina (Serbia) in QR2

Bangor City. Last played on European stage 2014/15 starting in QR1 beaten 0-8 by Icelanic club Stjarnan.

 

Republic of Ireland (3)

 

Cork City. Fine run in Europa League last year reaching QR3. Results: QR1 Linfield 2-1, QR2 BK Hacken (Sweden) 2-1, QR3 KRC Genk (Belgium) 1-3.

Shamrock Rovers. 2016/17 No European football. Last campaign 2015/16. Won through QR1 lost to Odds BK of Norway 1-4 in QR2. 2011/12, reached Group Stage finished bottom 0 pts.

Derry City. No European football since 2014/15 progressed to QR2, lost 1-6 FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus.

 

Georgia (3)

 

Chikhura Sachkhere. Played in EL QR1 last season (unseeded), went out on the away goals rule to Moldovians Zimbru Chisinau.

Torpedo Kutaisi. Last European campaign 2013/14, knocked out QR1 by Zilina (Slovakia).

Dinamo Batumi. Last appearance 2015/16 QR1 lost 1-2 to Cypriot club AC Omonia.

 

Lithuania (3)

 

Atlantas Klaipeda. Were unseeded 2016/17, lost 0-2 at home (1-3 on agg) to HJK Helsinki in QR1 where Morelos scored both goals. Only once (2014/15) in 7 attempts have they won a QR1

Suduva Marijampole. Also unseeded last season, lost both legs 0-1 to FC Midtjylland (Denmark) in QR1. 10 previous campaigns, 5 successes at winning first QR, never been further

FK Trakai. Another side who took part in 2016/17 losing QR1 to seeded Estonian club Nomme Kalju FC (3-5). This is only their 3rd European campaign in their history, got to QR2 in 2015/16.

 

Luxembourg (3)

 

CS Fola Esch. Sheep knocked them out last year in QR1. Have played a total of 12 games in Europe won 1 (against sheep, lost on agg) have never progressed.

Differdange. Another who fell at QR1 last season Cliftonville winning 3-1 on agg. Will be playing for the 10th time in Europe, got to the Play-off Rd (2011/12) lost 0-6 to PSG, 2013/14 won through to QR3.

Progres Niederkorn. No European football last year. 2015/16 lost 0-3 Shamrock Rovers in QR1. Last appearance before that was 1982/83.

 

Faroe Islands (3)

 

NSI Runavik. Competed in QR1 unseeded last year lost 0-7 to Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus. Have never won a QR in 9 attempts.

B36 Torshavn. Took part in 2016/17 UEFA CL qualifiers, lost out QR1 on away goals to Valetta of Malta.

KI Klaksvik. Haven't competed in European competition since season 2003/04 when they were beaten 0-6 by Molde of Norway. 7 previous campaigns, never got past QR.

 

 

Albania (2)

 

KF Tirana. Last European appearance 5 years ago (2012/13) eliminated 6-1 by Aalesund FK of Norway.

Partizani Tirana. Complicated one...Last season had their EL QR1 Match cancelled after 0-0 1st leg vs Slovan Bratislava who proceeded directly to QR2, after Skënderbeu Korce was excluded by UEFA for match-fixing.

Partizani Tirana was then transferred to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round following the exclusion of KF Skënderbeu Korce.

UEFA CL: QR2 bt Ferencváros 3-1 on pens, QR3 lost 0-3 Red Bull Salzburg. They dropped into Europa League Playoff before losing out 0-4 to FC Krasnodar (Russia).

 

N. Ireland (2)

 

Coleraine. Last European campaign 2003/04. Lost QR1 2-6 U.D. Leiria (Portugal). Have never won a European tie in six attempts.

Ballymena United. Last European appearance (1988/89 lost 0-10 RSC Anderlecht)

 

Gibralter (2)

 

Lincoln Red Imps. Last season competed in UEFA CL entering at QR1. Knocked out Estonian club FC Flora Tallinn 3-2 on agg, before terrible crowd trouble and shocking referee decisions at parkheid saw them unjustly beaten by the bheasts on agg. This is the Imps first pop at the Europa League after 3 consecutive years competing in the UEFA CL qualifiers.

St Joseph's FC. Making their European debut.

 

Finland (2)

 

SJK Seinajoki. Last season competed in UEFA CL entering at QR2. Eliminated 2-4 on agg to Bate of Belarus.

Vaasan Palloseura. Last played in European competition 2015/16 beaten in QR1 losing out 2-6 against AIK Fotboll (Sweden)

 

Macedonia (2)

 

Shkendija Tetovo. (One to avoid) Club played in ELQ's last season battling through to the Play-Off Round. Scores: QR1 Cracovia (Poland) 4-1, QR2 Neftci (Azerbaijan) 1-0, QR3 Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic) 2-1, before losing the Playoff Rnd to Belgian side Gent 1-6.

Pelister Bitola. Last played in European competition 2008/09 going out in QR1 to APOEL of Cyprus 0-1 over two legs.

 

Montenegro (2)

 

Zeta Golubovci. Last played in European competition 2012/13 entering at QR1, reaching the Play-Off Round before losing 0-9 to PSV Eindhoven. This is the only side we have played before, Rangers won that 3-0 on agg in a CL QR2 tie 10 years ago.

Sutjeska Niksic. Last played in European competition 2015/16 beaten in QR1 0-5 by Debrecen of Hungary.

 

San Marino (2)

 

Tre Penne. Played in EL QR1 last season, The New Saints (Wales) disposed of them 5-1 on agg. Have never won on agg in 5 previous ties.

S.S. Folgore. Just like their compatriots above, failed at QR1 last year going out 1-6 to Cypriots AEK Larnaca. 4 previous campaigns in Europe lost all home and away.

 

Armenia (2)

 

Pyunik Yerevan. Went out in QR1 last year to Gibralter's Europa FC. 17 campaigns, 6 wins in QR1, never been further.

Gandzasar Kapan. Last European competition 2013/14 beaten 2-4 FC Aktobe (Kazakhstan) Best: QR2 2012/13.

 

Latvia (2)

 

FK Liepaja. Last season was the clubs first European campaign, entered at QR2 - lost 0-3 to Austrians Red Bull Salzburg.

FK Jelgava. Fine run in Europa League last year reaching QR3. Results: QR1 Breioablik 5-4, QR2 Slovan Bratislava 3-0, QR3 Beitar Jerusalem 1-4.

 

Andorra (2)

 

UE Santa Coloma. Played in EL QR1 last season (unseeded), fell at the first hurdle to Croatian club Lokomotiva 2-7. Santa Coloma have never got past QR1 in six attempts, losing all 12 matches home and away.

UE Sant Julia. Last played in European competition 2015/16 losing out to Randers FC of Demark 0-4 on agg. Sant Julia have competed in 26 European games since 2001 without winning a single match (conceding 91 goals), although they did reach QR2 of the 2009/10 Champions League on penalties after two 1-1 draws against Tre Fiori (San Marino).

 

Malta (2)

 

Balzan FC. This is their 3rd consecutive entry to the EL QR1. Last season they went out to Neftci PFC Baki of Azerbaijan 2-3.

Floriana. Last tasted European competition in 2008/09 losing 0-12 to Swedish outfit Elfsborg.

 

Countries (10) with just the 1 unseeded representative.

 

Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Played in last seasons EL QR1 lost out (1-3) to Maltese side Birkirkara.

 

ND Gorica (Slovenia). Played in last seasons EL QR1 dispatched by top seed Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-4.

 

Zaria Balti (Moldova). Played in last seasons EL QR1 eliminated 3-2 by Videoton (Hungary).

 

Valur Reykjavik (Iceland). Played in last seasons EL QR1 crashed out to Danish side Brondby 10-1.

 

Flora Tallinn (Estonia). Last season competed in UEFA CL entering at QR1 (lost 2-3 to Lincoln Red Imps).

 

Mladost Lucani (Serbia). Making their European debut.

 

Vasas SC (Hungary). Last played in European competition 2000/01 losing 2-4 AEK Athens in 1st Round of UEFA Cup.

 

MFK Ruzomberok (Slovakia). Last played in European competition 2006/07 (UEFA Cup 1st Round) lost 1-2 to Club Brugge.

 

FC Prishtina (Kosovo). (Could be one to avoid) Making their European debut. The Vala Superliga ran outside of FIFA and UEFA until Kosovo was admitted to both organizations on May 3, 2016.

 

Irtysh Pavlodar (Kazakhstan). Top the unseeded clubs, last played in a European campaign (Europa League) 2013–14, knocked out Bulgarians Levski Sofia (2-0) in QR1 before going out to Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-4 in QR2.

 

 

We can now look at the 31 sides possibly awaiting us in QR2 should we get there (Rangers will be unseeded).

 

(Note 1: If St Johnstone survive QR1 we can't be drawn against them or Aberdeen).

 

(Note 2: Only 11 of the following are gauranteed to be there as they enter the competition at the QR2 stage)

 

(Note 3: The clubs listed below are on the assumption all seeded clubs from QR1 will win through, this literally won't happen of course, but enjoy anyway).

 

 

The 11 clubs who definately will be there, starting with those who played in last seasons ELQ's (5)

 

Gabala FK (Azerbaijan). Entered Europa League at QR1 progressed to Group Stage, finished 4th 0 pts. Gabala also progressed from EL QR1 to Group Stage the previous year (2015/16).

Hajduk Split (Croatia). Entered Europa League at QR2 progressed to Play-Off Round lost out on pens to Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Apollon Limassol (Cyprus). 2016/17 Entered Europa League at QR3, lost to Grasshopper (Swiss) 4-5.

Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic). Entered Europa League at QR3, lost to Shkendija (Macedonia) 1-2.

FC Luzern (Swiss). Entered Europa League at QR3, lost to Sassuolo (Italy) 1-4.

 

 

Clubs (6) who failed to win a European place last season

 

Galatasaray (Turkey). Last campaign 2015/16. UEFA CL Group Stage, finished 3rd behind Atletico Madrid (Spain) and Benfica (Portugal), dropped into Europa League R32 lost 2-4 S.S. Lazio (Italy).

Astra Giurgiu (Romania). Last campaign 2015/16. Europa League, progressed through QR2 & QR3, lost Play-Off Round 4-3 to AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands).

Brondby IF (Denmark). Last campaign 2015/16 Entered Europa League at QR2, progressed to Play-Off Round lost 1-6 to PAOK (Greece).

Sturm Graz (Austria). Last campaign 2015/16 Entered Europa League at QR3, knocked out 3-4 by Russians Rubin Kazan.

FC Utrecht (Netherlands). Last campaign 2013/14 Entered Europa League at QR2, shock exit to Differdange (Luxembourg).

Panionios (Greece). Haven't played in a European Campaign since Napoli eliminated them from the Intertoto Cup 10 years ago.

 

 

The remaining 20 clubs have QR1 to play (See Note 3 above)

 

Only one club from this list made it through to last seasons Europa League Group Stage from QR1

 

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel). Along with Gabala FK (see above) Maccabi finished in 3rd place on seven points behind Zenit (15) & AZ Alkmaar (8).

 

 

Clubs (4) who played in last seasons Europa League at QR1 and reached the Play-off round.

 

FC Midtjylland (Denmark). Went out to Turkish side Osmanlıspor 0-3.

Beitar Jerusalem (Israel). Lost to St-Étienne (France) 1-2.

Vojvodina (Serbia). Beaten by AZ Alkmaar of Netherlands 0-3.

AEK Larnaca (Cyprus). Lost out to Slovan Liberec (Czech Rep.) 0-3.

 

Clubs (4) who played in last seasons Europa League at QR1 and reached QR3.

 

Dinamo Minsk (Belarus). Beaten 1-3 by Vojvodina of Serbia.

HJK Helsinki (Finland). Lost out to Sweden's IFK Gothenborg 2-3.

AIK Stockholm (Sweden). Lost the tie 0-3 to Panathinaikos (Greece).

Videoton (Hungary). Went out to FC Midtjylland 1-2.

 

Clubs (4) who played in last seasons Europa League at QR1 and made it to QR2.

 

Shakhtior Saligorsk (Belarus). Beaten by Slovenian club Domzale 2-3.

Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia). Out to FK Jelgava (Latvia) 0-3.

FK Ventspils (Latvia). lost to Sheep 0-4.

Odd Grenland (Norway). Lost the tie to PAS Giannina of Greece 3-4.

 

Clubs (3) who last season were competing in the UEFA Champions League

 

Red Star Belgrade (Serbia). Entered UEFA CL at QR2, progressed to QR3 losing out 4-6 to Ludogorets of Bulgaria, dropped into EL Play-Off lost 1-4 to Italian club Sassuolo.

AS Trencin (Slovakia). Entered UEFA CL at QR2, progressed to QR3 crashed out 0-1 to Poles Legia Warsaw, dropped into EL Play-Off lost 1-4 to Rapid Wien (Austria).

Skenderbeu Korce (Albania) Entered UEFA CL at QR2, were drawn to face Ferencvaros, the ties weren't played though, as soon after the draw, Skenderbeu were banned from European football for 1 year over match-fixing allegations.

 

Clubs (4) who failed to qualify for European competition last season

 

AEL Limassol (Cyprus). Last campaign 2014/15 Lost Zenit 1-3 in UEFA CL QR3, dropped into EL Play-Off lost 1-5 Spurs.

Lech Poznan (Poland). Last campaign 2015/16 Entered Europa League at Play-Off stage, defeated Videoton (Hungary) 4-0 to reach Group Stage where they finished 3rd behind Basel & Fiorentina.

SCR Altach (Austria). Last campaign 2015/16 (First European campaign) Entered Europa League at QR3, knocked out Vitoria S.C. of Portugal 6-2, before losing 0-1 in the Play-off to another Portugease outfit Belenenses.

Inter Baku (Azerbaijan). Last campaign 2015/16 Entered Europa League at QR1, advanced to QR3 before going out 0-2 to Athletic Bilbao.

[pete 2,499]

Utrecht have a good team and should not be underrated. One of the best new breed Dutch managers. The question is how many players will they lose before we could meet them

Edited June 18, 2017 by pete