Jagiellonia look to reach Europa League proper for third season in row

Kamil Jozwiak (left) was previously with Derby County [Getty Images] Anyone trying to find a connection between Rangers' Europa League opponents, Jagiellonia Bialystok and Glasgow rivals Partick Thistle apart from their similar strip and nickname will be sadly disappointed. The Jaga from Bialystok, the largest city in north-eastern Poland, and 10th overall, play in yellow and red because those are the colours of the historic local dynasty. On the field of play, Jagiellonia have been steadily building themselves a bit of a reputation in European football since winning the Polish title for the first time two years ago. They reached the Conference League quarter-finals two seasons ago, losing to Real Betis, after finishing ninth in the league stage. Last season, they finished 17th then gave Fiorentina a fright before losing 5-4 on aggregate after extra time in the play-off round. Having finished third in the Ekstraklasa, Jagiellonia start this season's campaign in the Europa League qualifiers. They will be hoping to go one better than the two sides who finished above them, with Lech Poznan somehow letting a 4-1 lead over AGF Aarhus of Denmark slip at home before exiting on penalties last week while Gornik Zabrze were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Fenerbahce. Adrian Siemieniec's side have certainly started the season positively and sit second in the Ekstraklasa on goal difference behind Legia Warsaw after winning their opening two games. Nik Prelec, the Slovenian forward signed from Oxford United this summer, scored in both the 1-0 home win over Korona Kielce and the 2-1 victory away to Motor Lublin on Friday. Key attacking midfielder Bartosz Mazurek was sold to Salzburg this summer, but Dane Anders Klynge has been signed from Bodo/Glimt in his place. Poland-capped defensive midfielder Taras Romanczuk captains a side that also features former Derby County winger Kamil Jozwiak and former Celtic centre-half Yuki Kobayashi. That is not the only Glasgow connection, with former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan and ex-Thistle defender Ziggy Gordon signing for the 2017-18 season when Siemieniec, who was promoted to head coach three years ago, was assistant. Now it is the other side of the Old Firm who head to the 22,432-capacity Chorten Arena for Thursday's first leg.