Rangers fired Dynamo Kiev Champions League warning as ‘Ibrox target’ smashes in hat-trick

Rangers found out at the beginning of the week that they’d be facing either Dynamo Kiev or Partizan Belgrade in Champions League qualifying.

They found out by the middle of it that it’s probably going to be the Ukrainians.

Dynamo Kiev roared back from an early penalty kick setback to stun Serbian outfit Partizan Belgrade 6-2 in Poland.

It’s set up what could potentially be a history making tie against Rangers where neither home team is capable of using their own stadium.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Dynamo Kiev are using Poland’s Lublin Arena whilst Rangers have relocated to Hampden due to works at Ibrox.

Dynamo Kiev set up Rangers tie
In a rampant display of goalscoring, Rangers were a fired a warning about the determination and finishing quality in the Ukrainian ranks.

Mykola Shaparenko’s powerful side foot first-half equaliser gave an inclination into the quality in Dynamo Kiev’s side, whilst two scuffed efforts on the brink of halftime to turn the tie in the club’s favour highlights the determination.

Dynamo Kiev smelled blood in the second half too, when Vladyslav Kabayev drove forward and fired a fourth in low past the keeper.

Whilst Partizan scrambled home a second goal, it only served to anger the Kiev ranks who rallied late on to put QR3 firmly in their sights.

Denys Popov scrambled home a fifth after a stunning free-kick effort had been saved, with Oleksandr Phikhalyonok rolling home a sixth in injury time.

The result means it will take a monumental fight back from Partizan Belgrade in Serbia to prevent Dynamo Kiev progressing to face Rangers.

Ibrox-linked winger nets hattrick
Dynamo Kiev’s rampant victory over Partizan Belgrade isn’t the only Rangers interest story from the Champions League qualifiers either.

Normally we wouldn’t have an eye on the progress of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros in this competition.

But with Rangers linked to a move for Malian winger Adama Traore, it’s certainly has us following their Champions League progress.

Ex-Sheriff Tiraspol winger Traore is something of an expert in qualification for European football’s biggest tournament and proved so again against Welsh champions TNS.

Hammering in a stunning hat-trick against the New Saints, the Malian winger has star quality at this level and the goals will only pique the interest of Ibrox fans.

It remains unclear if Rangers are still pursuing a move for Traore, with the Ferencvaros winger at the centre of a controversial boycott of the Mali national team.