Rangers manager Walter Smith is relishing six "huge games" in the Champions League group stages after his team were drawn to face three of the strongest teams on the continent.
Smith's side must face Spanish giants Barcelona, French champions Lyon and Bundesliga winners Stuttgart at home and away in Group E before Christmas.
The games are the reward for Rangers beating FK Zeta and Red Star Belgrade in qualifying, but it will be a tall order for the Light Blues to finish in the top two and advance to the last 16.
Smith told Rangers' official website, rangers.co.uk: "It's an extremely tough draw for us but it is simply part and parcel of qualifying for the group phase and there is a great element of glamour about it.
"Barcelona have fabulous footballers, Lyon have remarkable consistency having won the French title for the past six seasons and Stuttgart won the German title on the final day of last season.
"So there is a great standard of teams and it is clearly going to be very hard for us.
"In saying that, it will be a great experience for everyone because this is the stage that everyone wants to be on.
"We are in the group phase and we have some huge games to look forward to."
Barcelona were the 2006 European champions and will be making a quick return to Scotland after facing Hearts and Dundee United during their memorable week-long summer tour, when they stayed at St Andrews.
With the likes of Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry in their ranks, Barca start as group favourites, however neither Lyon nor Stuttgart will be underestimated by Smith.
Rangers faced Stuttgart in the 2003/04 Champions League, winning at Ibrox but losing away as Alex McLeish's side finished bottom of their group.
Rangers have never faced Lyon or Barcelona in competitive matches, however their trip to the latter's Nou Camp home for the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup final was notable.
Rangers beat Dynamo Moscow 3-2 but pitch invasions by Scottish supporters at the end of the game resulted in the club being hit with a two-year ban from Europe, later reduced to one year.
David Edgar, spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust, is relishing the three games.
Edgar told PA Sport: "It's a fantastic draw. It couldn't be any better.
"Three easy places to get to and there will be plenty of tickets for the Nou Camp. That night will be the stuff of legends.
"There is no pressure on Rangers in this competition, we are not expected to do anything so we can just go out and enjoy ourselves.
"There will be three big glamorous nights at Ibrox.
"Lyon are not the side they were, they have just changed their coach and we beat Stuttgart at Ibrox a couple of seasons ago so nothing is impossible.
"We will just enjoy Barcelona, that's one you will remember for the rest of your life. It will be a great experience."
The games are the reward for Rangers beating FK Zeta and Red Star Belgrade in qualifying, but it will be a tall order for the Light Blues to finish in the top two and advance to the last 16.
Smith told Rangers' official website, rangers.co.uk: "It's an extremely tough draw for us but it is simply part and parcel of qualifying for the group phase and there is a great element of glamour about it.
"Barcelona have fabulous footballers, Lyon have remarkable consistency having won the French title for the past six seasons and Stuttgart won the German title on the final day of last season.
"So there is a great standard of teams and it is clearly going to be very hard for us.
"In saying that, it will be a great experience for everyone because this is the stage that everyone wants to be on.
"We are in the group phase and we have some huge games to look forward to."
Barcelona were the 2006 European champions and will be making a quick return to Scotland after facing Hearts and Dundee United during their memorable week-long summer tour, when they stayed at St Andrews.
With the likes of Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry in their ranks, Barca start as group favourites, however neither Lyon nor Stuttgart will be underestimated by Smith.
Rangers faced Stuttgart in the 2003/04 Champions League, winning at Ibrox but losing away as Alex McLeish's side finished bottom of their group.
Rangers have never faced Lyon or Barcelona in competitive matches, however their trip to the latter's Nou Camp home for the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup final was notable.
Rangers beat Dynamo Moscow 3-2 but pitch invasions by Scottish supporters at the end of the game resulted in the club being hit with a two-year ban from Europe, later reduced to one year.
David Edgar, spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust, is relishing the three games.
Edgar told PA Sport: "It's a fantastic draw. It couldn't be any better.
"Three easy places to get to and there will be plenty of tickets for the Nou Camp. That night will be the stuff of legends.
"There is no pressure on Rangers in this competition, we are not expected to do anything so we can just go out and enjoy ourselves.
"There will be three big glamorous nights at Ibrox.
"Lyon are not the side they were, they have just changed their coach and we beat Stuttgart at Ibrox a couple of seasons ago so nothing is impossible.
"We will just enjoy Barcelona, that's one you will remember for the rest of your life. It will be a great experience."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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