RANGERS could return to the scene of what has been called the club’s worst ever result after yesterday’s Europa League play-off draw gave them a chance of facing last season’s foes Progres Niederkorn.

Steven Gerrard’s side will face the Luxembourg outfit 12 months on from Pedro Caixinha's side being knocked out by the minnows if they get past Maribor and their former conquerors once again upset the odds by defeating Russian side FC Ufa.

The name of Progres will forever be a stain on Rangers’ long and proud European record but it is unlikely the two teams will play again as UFA, sixth in the Russian league last season, are hugely expected to win their own third qualifying round two-legged tie.

Celtic have been handed a decent draw for the Champions League play-off. Should they get past AEK Athens next week, they play the Greeks in Glasgow on Wednesday, it is Swedish side Malmo or MOL Vidi of Hungary that stand in the way of Brendan Rodgers leading the club into the group stage for a third year in a row.

There is a lot of football to be played, of course, but the Celtic manager will be quietly pleased. Indeed, it could be argued AEK are a stronger team than both Malmo, who beat Celtic three years ago at the same stage, and MOL.

Should Celtic lose to the Greeks, then Spartaks Jurmala of Latvia or Lithuanian outfit Suduva will be their opponents in the Europa League play-off round. Even if Celtic do lose to AEK, they would be strong favourites to make the Europa League given the level of opponent which would be in their way of that tournament’s group stage.

Hibernian have not been so fortunate.

Should Neil Lennon’s men get past Norwegian outfit Molde – the first leg is at Easter Road this Thursday – then up next is either Dinamo Minsk or Zenit St Petersburg, who ended Celtic’s Europa League hopes earlier this year.

Lennon, if his team do make it to their play-off, would hope to play the men from Belarus rather than the big-spending Russians.