6 Rangers Champions League opponents rated and ranked as Genk tool up plus Greek sleeping giant awakens

After a horror show in last season's Champions League group stage, Rangers will be desperate for a return in order to put things right this season.

However, Michael Beale’s men must first negotiate their third round qualifier and then a playoff round to reach the promised land. They managed it last year when Antonio Colak's goal in Eindhoven meant they scooped the £30million jackpot and joined Celtic against the big boys of European football.

Beale will see no reason why he can't replicate predecessor Giovanni van Bronckhorst's feat, but will hope to make a better fist of it if he does. The Gers ended the campaign with the unwanted record of the worst performing side in that stage of the competition’s history, failing to pick up a single point and shipping 22 goals, scoring just twice themselves. Who exactly they’ll face to try and get back at the top table remains to be seen when the draw takes place on July 24, but they do know their potential foes ahead of the second qualifying round ties.

Record Sport takes a look at how they have been shaping up over the summer.

The Belgians should have had sufficient time to catch their breath after what was an incredible end to the Pro League season. At differing points within five minutes on the final day, three of the Championship playoff round teams found themselves top of the pile. But it was perhaps Genk who suffered the most heartbreaking end. They were leading Royal Antwerp in stoppage time with one-hand on the title, until Toby Alderweireld found the top corner to stun The Smurfs and rip the championship from them.

Ahead of the new campaign, they’ve added Gambian winger Alieu Fadera. He’s joined in a €4million switch Zulte Waregem. They’ve also signed left back Joris