Women's Champions League: Tough challenge awaits Hearts and Rangers
Heart of Midlothian and Rangers begin their new Champions League qualifying campaigns this Wednesday, looking to overcome the recent struggles of Scottish clubs in Europe.
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Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Rangers face a demanding week as they begin their campaigns in the second qualifying round of the Women's Champions League. Since Glasgow City's quarter-final run in 2020, Scottish teams have struggled to make an impact on the European stage, and both sides are now aiming to reverse this downward trend.
For Hearts, current Scottish Women's Premier League champions, this marks their first venture into European competition. Under new head coach Andy Thomson, who replaced Eva Olid, the squad travels to Denmark for a mini-tournament. Their first test is against Gintra, a veteran Lithuanian side currently leading their domestic league. Should they succeed, they will face either HB Koge or Riga in Saturday's final.
Rangers enter the competition under a new coaching partnership of Leanne Crichton and her brother Colin. They face a daunting "league path" qualification, starting with a match against three-time Champions League quarter-finalists Slavia Prague at Broadwood Stadium. If they progress, they will face the winner of the Ajax versus Brondby fixture.
The current tournament format offers a safety net, as runners-up and third-placed teams in these mini-tournaments can still find a route into the Europa League qualifying stages. However, both Scottish teams are focused on navigating the challenging path to progress in the continent's elite competition.