Easy start for Steaua, Red Star and Rangers

By DPA

Nyon (Switzerland) : Former winners Steaua Bucharest and Red Star Belgrade have what appears like easy second-round opponents in qualifying for the European Champions League, and so do the Glasgow Rangers.


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According to the first and second round draw made Friday, Rangers meet the winner of the first-round tie between Zeta Golubovci of Montenegro and Lithuanian champions FBK Kaunas. Rangers beat Kaunas 4-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round in 2000.

The 1986 champions Steaua first visit Zaglebie Lubin of Poland while Red Star, European champions in 1991, take on Pobeda Prilep of Macedonia or Estania's Levadia Tallinn.

The 14 first-round ties take place July 17/18 and 24/25, and the second qualifying round with also 14 ties is set for July 31/August 1 and August 7/8.

Steaua, Red Star and Rangers were among 14 teams with a first-round bye.

The leading nations – England, Spain and Italy – don't enter the competition until the third qualifying round, the final round ahead of the money-laden group stage, which starts in September led by holders AC Milan.

Changes in the competition format allow the champions of Andorra and San Marino first Champions League experience.

Andorra's FC Rangers were drawn to play Moldova's Sheriff Tiraspol in the first round, while San Marino's SS Murata take on Tampere United of Finland.

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