The Ibrox side are due to enter Europe’s elite competition in the second round qualifier but could skip a round
Rangers suffered a bitter blow in Bilbao as they crashed out of the Europa League last week with controversy on the park and some ugly scenes off it.
But the Light Blue legions will have to put that to one side for the remainder of the competition as the Spaniards can boost the Ibrox side’s European hopes next season.
As things stand, Rangers are due to go into the league path of the Champions League second qualifying round which, significantly, wouldn’t offer them a guarantee of group stage European football.
The draw for that takes place on June 18 and potential opponents at that stage could be the likes of Brann Bergen, Servette (who they defeated two seasons ago) or Austria Vienna.
However, if the side that wins the Europa League also qualifies for the Champions League group stage directly through their domestic league position then Rangers would benefit by being bumped up a round.
That could be crucial as even defeat in the third qualifying round would see them drop into the Europa League play off and the losers of that progress straight to the Europa Conference League. So that would be a minimum for Rangers.
And it’s the Ibrox side’s conquerers – hosts of the final on May 21 – who offer the only hope of the winners of UEFA’s second tier competition also qualifying for the Champions League group stage through their league.
The Spaniards’ semi-final opponents Manchester United are languishing in 14th place in the English Premier League with Tottenham two places below them – and their last four opponents Bodo/Glimt are already confirmed as being in the Champions League play-off round with the standings taken from the Norwegian league which has already finished.
The good news for Rangers is that Spain earned an extra automatic Champions League place thanks to Athletic Bilbao’s win coupled with Lazio’s surprise exit on penalties at the hands of Bodo/Glimt.
Despite a narrow defeat away to Real Madrid on Sunday evening, Athletic Club are comfortably on court for a top five finish – sitting in fourth position, five points clear of fifth place Villarreal and nine points clear of Real Betis in sixth.
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