Champions League rivals WANT Rangers in qualifying but worst ever campaign isn't the reason why

Scottish Premiership runners-up Rangers have been earmarked as perfect Champions League opponents by Sturm Graz manager Christian Ilzer.

The Ibrox side will enter qualifying the third qualifying round stage next season and will be desperate to wipe out the ignominy of this season's campaign which saw Rangers pick up the unwanted tag of being the worst-ever team in the group stage after six defeats out of six. They already know a number of opponents they could face, which include Austrian runners-up Sturm Graz, as well as old foes Union Saint-Gilloise, Servette, Dnipro or Panathinaikos.

And Sturm Graz boss Ilzer, who was previously in charge of Austria Vienna and Wolfsberger in his homeland, has revealed he's desperate to be paired against Michael Beale's men in the draw, which takes place in Switzerland on July 24. He said: "Getting drawn with Glasgow Rangers would be my wish.

"Not because they are weak, but I would really like to sample the atmosphere at Ibrox Park. I'd love to hear the Champions League anthem back at Graz and it's not impossible for us to make it to the group stage. Last season, we missed out narrowly to Dynamo Kyiv and we want to go further. We look forward to the draw."

Sturm Graz did play at Ibrox in Europe before – Dick Advocaat's side swept away the then-Austrian champions 5-0 in 2000 in the Group stage through goals from Ronald de Boer, Michael Mols, Jorg Albertz, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Billy Dodds. However, Sturm gained a measure of revenge with a 2-0 win in the return leg with Arthur Numan sent off.

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