UEFA Champions League draw: Celtic, Rangers and Jose Mourinho learn potential play-off opponents with clubs seeking league phase spot

The first leg will be played in Glasgow on August 19/20, with the return leg the following week.

Celtic beat Slovan Brastislava 5-1 in the opening game of last season’s league phase.

Brendan Rodgers’ team finished 21st in the 36-team league table, before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the knockout phase play-offs.

But Russell Martin’s side must first get the better of Czech team Viktoria Plzen, who they host on Tuesday night before the return leg on August 12.

Rangers beat Greek side Panathinaikos 3-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round.

If they are beaten by Plzen, or by RB Salzburg/Club Brugge, they will drop into the Europa League.

Rangers are aiming to qualify for the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2022/23 season, when they lost all six of their matches, including a 7-1 loss to Liverpool.

The Gers did reach the quarter-finals of last season’s Europa League though, before succumbing to a 2-0 aggregate defeat against La Liga side Athletic Club.

Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce will face French club Nice or two-time European Cup winners Benfica, should they overcome Feyenoord in their third qualifying round tie.

Mourinho guided Fenerbahce to the last 16 of the Europa League last season, where they were beaten on penalties by Rangers.

Bodo/Glimt, Europa League semi-finalists against Spurs in 2024/25, face Sturm Graz.

Feyenoord/Fenerbahce v Nice/Benfica

Rangers/Viktoria Plzen v Salzburg/Club Brugge

Ferencvaros/Ludogorets v Qarabag/Shkendija

Red Star/Lech Poznan v Dynamo Kyiv/Pafos

Celtic v Slovan Bratislava/Kairat