Hell of a draw for Rangers

Fenerbahce fans give a warm welcome

Dick Advocaat knows that his Rangers side will need to go to hell and back to reach the heaven of the Champions League group stage.

Rangers were drawn against Turkish champions Fenerbahce should the Scots defeat Slovenian side NK Maribor in their opening tie of the competition.

It was cruel luck on Rangers, who were seeded in the draw and could have met a host of lesser-known sides but instead head for an atmosphere many describe as football hell.

While Liverpool drew perhaps the easiest tie, against Maccabi Haifa or FC Haka, Rangers must meet the side that toppled Galatasaray last season.

As his side prepared to meet Anderlecht in a Saturday's friendly, Advocaat said: "We first have to focus on Maribor.

Swedish international Kennet Anderson

"It's a little bit premature to discuss Fenerbahce.

"We will look at them if and when we get past the Slovenians.

"However, it is fair to say that we will face a difficult tie against the Turkish side if we can get into the third round."

Fenerbahce sprinkle homegrown international talent with several imports with vast experience.

Giant Swedish international striker Kennet Anderson arrived from Bologna, while Bosnian sweeper Zoran Mirkovic was with Juventus.

Zoran Mirkovic was with Juventus

They also feature Croatian forward Milan Rapajic, previously with Perugia, and Ghana international midfielder Samuel Johnson.

Fenerbahce will visit Ibrox on either 7 or 8 August, with Rangers travelling to Istanbul for the second leg on 21 or 22 August.

Rangers will no doubt call on some inside information from Tugay Kerimoglu, the Turkish international who this week completed his move from Ibrox to Blackburn Rovers.

Tugay formerly played with Galatasaray, who last season defeated Rangers 3-2 in Istanbul in the first group stage and drew 0-0 at Ibrox.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, won the Turkish title by three points from their city rivals.

Ghana international Samuel Johnson

Anderlecht also had the luck of the Champions League draw and will take on either Irish part-timers Bohemians or Swedish side Halmstads should they overcome Sherrif Tiraspol.

The Belgians are at Ibrox for John Brown's testimonial without last season's first-choice strikers, Jan Koller and Tomasz Radzinski, who has joined Everton.

But they will still provide a stiff last test for Rangers before they face Maribor.

They have re-signed Gilles de Bilde, a free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday, who Advocaat brought to PSV Eindhoven from Anderlecht.

"The first season at PSV, he was excellent," said Advocaat. "The other season he had some injuries and at Wednesday he was struggling as well.

"He's a good player though - if he's fit."