Rangers to face Celtic's old foes Lincoln Red Imps in Europa League

Rangers have been drawn against Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.

Steven Gerrard will take his Rangers side to Gibraltar for their Europa League second qualifying round tie against Lincoln Red Imps (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

Steven Gerrard’s team are scheduled to travel to the British Overseas Territory for the single leg tie on 17 September.

Aberdeen and Motherwell were also drawn away from home and will face Viking Stavanger of Norway and Coleraine of Northern Ireland respectively.

Lincoln Red Imps famously defeated Celtic 1-0 in the first leg of a Champions League second qualifying round tie in 2016 before losing the return fixture 3-0 in Glasgow.

Now coached by former Benfica defender William, they were awarded a 3-0 walkover win against Prishtina in the preliminary round of this season’s Europa League after several players from the Kosovan club recorded positive Covid-19 tests, then beat Union Titus of Luxembourg 2-0 in the first qualifying round last week.

Aberdeen, comfortable 6-0 winners over NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands at Pittodrie in the first qualifying round, can expect a sterner test in Stavanger.

However, Viking are currently struggling domestically where they sit 10th at the midway point of the Norwegian Eliteserien, just four points above the relegation zone.

Back in Europe for the first time since 2008-09, Viking are coached by former Norway defender Bjarne Berntsen.

Motherwell take on opponents from the Northern Ireland Premiership for the second tie in a row after their 5-1 win over Glentoran at Fir Park last week.

Coleraine, managed by former St Mirren boss Oran Kearney, beat La Fiorita of San Marino 1-0 in the preliminary round this season before recording a notable victory on penalties against Maribor in Slovenia last week.