Celtic and Rangers Champions League play-off dates confirmed

The Champions League play-off dates for Celtic and Rangers have been confirmed by UEFA.

The draw in Nyon on Monday morning laid out the possible path to the September group stages for both Old Firm sides.

Celtic went into the seeded Champions Path side of the draw and will hope to reach the revamped group stages once more. Last season, they emerged from the single 36-team table with a 21st-place finish.

The Parkhead side were knocked in heartbreaking fashion after Bayern Munich scored in injury time to win their play-off tie 3-2 on aggregate.

They will face either Kairat or Slovan Bratislava in the play-off, with the first leg at Parkhead, on Wednesday, August 20, and the return leg a week later on Tuesday, August 26.

To reach the play-off stage, Russell Martin’s side must first defeat Viktoria Plzen, whom they host on Tuesday night, before the return leg on August 12.

Rangers have been drawn against Austrian side RB Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium, and could face them on Tuesday, August 19, with the return leg a week later on Wednesday, August 27.

The winner of the third round tie will play the first leg at home.

Celtic, and Rangers, should they get there, will be allowed to postpone their Scottish Premiership fixture scheduled between both legs of the play-off tie following an SPFL rule change.