RANGERS
2nd in Scottish league
Champions League pedigree: First knock-out round in 2006
THE LOW DOWN:
Scottish clubs are not renowned for their steely resolution away from home so Rangers deserved great credit for snatching a 0-0 draw against Crvena Zvezda and progressing to the group stages of the Champions League for the first time in two seasons.
A rising force again under the guidance of former Scotland boss Walter Smith, the blue half of Glasgow's Old Firm will be formidable opponents at their Ibrox home, but the draw for the group stage has been cruel to them.
TECHNICAL AREA:
Smith has already done a fine job in reviving Rangers after the disastrous and brief tenure of Frenchman Paul Le Guen. Dressing room discontent and woeful results against some of Scottish football's lesser lights meant Le Guen had to go and he left behind a major rebuilding job.
Smith was brave to walk out of the Scotland national team job and return to former club Rangers, yet he has already got them back on track. Indeed, many expect the Gers to reclaim the Scottish league title this season.
A 4-4-2 man, he has got the Rangers players fighting for the cause again and playing with the sort of belief that drained away under Le Guen. A great man motivator, he knows how this club works better than anyone and even though his odds of success in the 'Group of Death' are long, Smith will relish his task.
WOW FACTOR:
Captain Barry Ferguson is a hugely influential figure at the club and that much was confirmed as he played a central role in hastening Le Guen's departure from the club last season.
A solid and dependable midfielder with no little technical ability, he is a playmaker and ball winner all at once and even though there are question marks about his ability to mix it with the very best, Rangers fans won't have a word said against their talisman.
Kris Boyd is another key player and he has proved his worth at international level as well as in the less than competitive Scottish League. The cynics will claim he doesn't have the class to sparkle in the Champions League, but he gets his chance now.
THE BIG BUY:
Frenchman Jean-Claude Darcheville arrived from Bordeaux during the summer and seems to have settled well in Glasgow. Bursting with pace and power, he has all the attributes required to excel in the tough Scottish Premier League.
Lee McCullough was another addition ahead of the Champions League campaign and his brand of hard working creative play should give Rangers an extra dimension. Having excelled in Wigan colours in the English Premier League, making the leap to Champions League level should not be so big for McCulloch.
Also look out for new-boy DaMarcus Beasley, with this American international a talented performer in the midfield. Having excelled in the Champions League for PSV Eindhoven of late, he will not be daunted by the mammoth task Rangers face at the group stage of this season's competition.
THE TENDER SPOT:
Their defensive line was viewed as a weak link last season and while Smith has brought in Frenchman Carlos Cuellar in a bid to add some steel, the sides they will face in the Champions League will expose them once again.
Like neighbours Celtic, Rangers suffer from the fact that they are not given the sort of competition at home to prepare them for battles against Europe's elite. Thrown into a group featuring so many giants, the side so used to winning every week in domestic football are very much cast in the unfamiliar role of minnows.
HOT GOSSIP:
Belgian forward Thomas Buffel is on the way back from a long-term injury and if he can discover anything like his best form, he could be a decent wild card for manager Smith to have up his sleeve.
IDEAL LINE-UP:
McGregor, Hutton, Cuella, Weir, Papac, Beasley, Ferguson, Thomson, McCulloch, Darcheville, Boyd
THE VERDICT:
Walter Smith must have been tempted to request a re-draw after being grouped with Barcelona, Stuttgart and Lyon. He is experienced enough to know his side are destined to finish bottom of Group E.
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