Europa 2nd/3rd Quali Rounds: Progres/Willem II v Lincoln Red Imps/Rangers

[der Berliner 3,245]

What were the bets that all Scottish teams get away draws ... and what bets would there be that the Scum get a home draw for the third straight game?

[DMAA 3,603]

Rangers
Progrès or Willem II
Borac Banja Luka (BIH) or Rio Ave (POR)
Hammarby (SWE) or Lech (POL)

CELTIC
KuPS (Fin) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Riga (LVA) or Tre Fiori (SMR)
Sileks (MKD) or Drita (KOS)

ABERDEEN
Budapest Honved (HUN) or Malmo (SWE)
Sport Lisbon (POR)
PSV (NED)

MOTHERWELL
Backa Topoloa (SRB) FCSB (ROU)
Osiejk (CRO) or Basel (SUI)
Lac (ALB) or Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)
IFK Goteborg (SWE) or Copenhagen (DEN)

Edited August 31, 2020 by DMAA

[DMAA 3,603]

So Willem II, Rio Ave or Hammarby/Lech Poznań for us. Very tough draw when compared to the virtual bye Celtic got. Hopefully Hammarby upset the Poles and we get them. Rio Ave were marginally behind Braga last season in the league so would be very tough for this stage. Lech Poznań marginally behind Legia so again would be tough. 

[der Berliner 3,245]

... while the next round looks almost certainly the end of the road for Aberdeen and Motherwell.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

Very tough draw

[Frankie 8,150]

Still think it could have been worse.  We drew Midtjylland at that point last season and disposed of them comfortably enough....

[DMAA 3,603]

1 hour ago, Frankie said:

Still think it could have been worse.  We drew Midtjylland at that point last season and disposed of them comfortably enough....

We would go into each game as favourites. It's purely a matter of how likely an upset would be, and these are strong teams for this stage of the competition. We have a benchmark of sorts in that we've played against teams from these leagues last season.

 

Rio Ave - 5 points behind Braga in 5th

Willem II - 6 points behind Feyenoord having played 1 game more, in 5th

Lech Poznan - 3 points behind Legia in 2nd

Hammarby - No benchmark, but finished a point behind Djurgarden, who lost 2-0 to Ferencvaros. In 7th so far this season after 18 games

 

Away from home the first three in particular would be tricky. Rio Ave the main team to avoid I think. But we are definintely favourites. 

[Whosthedado 1,489]

I don't fear any of these teams to be honest and I think that's the way it should be after the last few season's exploits

[the gunslinger 3,366]

1 hour ago, Frankie said:

Still think it could have been worse.  We drew Midtjylland at that point last season and disposed of them comfortably enough....

I think we get a better team then them here almost certainly. 

[Gonzo79 13,597]

Under Gerrard, we've been really good in Europe but the one-leg, no crowd situation might alter things a bit.

 

Given our history in Europe, I tend to remain pessimistic - AEK Athens, Unirea Thingybob and Kaunas always remain at the back of my mind.  There are some decent sides in the next qualifier and matches, particularly if we're drawn away from home, won't be easy.