Europa and Conference League draws: Rangers, Celtic, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur learn fate

Paul Gascoigne (right) in action for Rangers against Borussia Dortmund — Paul Gascoigne (right) was in the Rangers side that drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund in 1995

Rangers will face German side Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League knockout round play-off.

Celtic take on Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the Conference League knockout round play-off, while Leicester City face Denmark’s Randers.

Should Tottenham Hotspur progress, they will take on Rapid Vienna.

Spurs’ final group game against Rennes was postponed because of a Covid outbreak and Uefa has to decide on how the section should be concluded.

Dutch side Vitesse currently sit second in the group as the governing body decides whether the English club’s game should be rearranged or if either they or Rennes forfeit the match.

The first legs will be played on 17 February, with the return ties held a week later.

This season’s new format means that the eight group winners, including West Ham United in the Europa League, directly advance to the round of 16.

Dortmund a formidable hurdle

Scottish champions Rangers were seeded in Monday’s Europa League draw having finished runners-up in their group behind Lyon.

Dortmund, who sit second to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in their Champions League section.

Managed by Marco Rose after he switched from Borussia Moenchengladbach this summer, they only missed out on progressing to the top-tier knock-out stage via head-to-head goal difference with Sporting Lisbon as both finished well adrift of Ajax.

Rangers, who currently lead the Scottish Premiership, last met Dortmund in the third round of the 1999-2000 Uefa Cup, when the Germans went through on penalties after both sides won their home legs 2-0.

Since then, the Glasgow side have won two, drawn one and lost five games against German opposition.

They shared 2-2 draws in both games with Dortmund in their Champions League group in 1995-96, while Rangers prevailed on aggregate in the 1966-67 European Cup-winners’ Cup and 1982-83 Uefa Cup.

What do we know about Bodo/Glimt, Randers and Rapid?

Celtic, who finished third behind Bayer Leverkusen and Real Betis, face a difficult task against a side who have just claimed their second national title in a row and finished unbeaten and a close second to Roma in their Conference League group, thrashing the Italians 6-1 at home and drawing 2-2 away.

Leicester, who finished third in their group behind Spartak Moscow and Napoli, appear to have a less difficult tie against a Randers side who finished well behind AZ Alkmaar in their Conference League group and sit fifth in the Danish Superliga.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ potential opponents, Rapid Vienna, finished well behind West Ham and Dinamo Zagreb in their Europa League group and are fifth in the Austrian top flight.