THE draw for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League takes place today in Nyon, Switzerland.
Russell Martin’s side are in the League Path section of the draw and will hope to benefit from their seeded status.
We have run the rule over the three potential opponents who await the Gers at the start of their Champions League journey.
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Panathinaikos certainly do not lack in European pedigree and enter this season’s qualifying draw by virtue of finishing third in the Greek top-flight last season.
The side finished seven points adrift of champions Olympiacos, recovering impressively after enduring a turbulent start to the season.
Rui Vitória was appointed as Panathinaikos manager last October following the departure of Diego Alonso, leading the side to the UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 where they tasted defeat at the hands of Fiorentina.
The Portuguese manager boasts an impressive CV having spent four years in charge at Benfica and two years recently with the Egyptian national team.
In terms of potential threats, Panathinaikos will look to 25-year-old forward Fotis Ioannidis who continues to attract attention from clubs around the continent.
The Athens-based outfit also count talented winger Facundo Pellistri among their ranks, with the Uruguayan having spent time in Manchester United’s youth ranks.
Servette (SUI)
Rangers supporters will be familiar with Servette having squared off against the Swiss side in UEFA Champions League qualifying in 2023.
Indeed, the Gers prevailed 3-2 on aggregate after James Tavernier netted a crucial equaliser in the return leg on a baking hot evening in Geneva.
The club sealed their place in UEFA Champions League qualifying with a second-placed finish in their domestic division, squeezing ahead of Young Boys who had to settle for a place in the UEFA Europa League play-off round.
In the dugout, Thomas Häberli assumed managerial duties for the side last year, returning to Switzerland after enjoying a distinguished playing career at Young Boys.
He has certainly made an impact on the group, lifting the side to the summit of the league table in March before his side’s form deserted them at the most inopportune moment in the campaign.
On the pitch, Alexis Antunes is the side’s creative fulcrum having featured extensively last season, while Bosnian international Miroslav Stevanovic, once of Sevilla, boasts experience and quality in attack.
SK Brann (NOR)
It was just under a year ago that SK Brann touched down on Scottish soil when they squared off against St. Mirren in UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying.
Indeed, the Norwegian outfit ran out 4-1 aggregate winners against Stephen Robinson’s side before their European group stage hopes were dashed at the final qualifying stage by Astana.
Domestically, however, Brann pieced together an impressive campaign, falling just short of clinching the Norwegian top-flight title as Bodo/Glimt, who reached the UEFA Europa League last four, continued their supremacy in the country.
The side strung together a run of seven victories in succession at exactly the right moment of the campaign – including a resounding 4-1 triumph over the eventual champions – but defeat to Molde in the penultimate game of the season ended their hopes of catching Kjetil Knutsen’s side.
There has been a change in the Brann dugout since the conclusion of last campaign in December, with the club appointing Icelandic coach, Freyr Alexandersson, who was most recently in charge of K.V. Kortrijk in Belgium.
The 42-year-old has steered his side to seven victories already this campaign; the Norwegian season having kicked off in March and running until the final week in November.
Aune Heggebø, 23, is the side’s talisman having netted seven times in 11 league outings so far this campaign.
The Norwegian side are also buoyed by the creative midfield influence of Felix Horn Myhre and Emil Kornvig, the latter of whom joined the club from Cittadella last year.
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