UEFA’ co-efficient ranking than will send either Celtic or Rangers out for Champions League qualification

Rangers and Celtic Eye Champions League Seeding as Final Matches Approach

As the Scottish Premiership season draws to a close, both Rangers and Celtic are keenly watching developments in European football that could significantly impact their chances of securing seeded positions for the Champions League play-off rounds next season.

Rangers, who are on the verge of appointing a permanent successor to interim manager Barry Ferguson following Philippe Clement’s departure, have their eyes set on a second-place finish in the Premiership. This position would allow them to enter the Champions League qualification phase at the second round, where they would be seeded. However, their hopes for a seeded spot in the play-off round hinge on the performance of Club Brugge in Belgium this weekend.

Currently, Brugge trails Union Saint-Gilloise by just one point in the Belgian league standings. For Rangers to secure a seeded position in the play-off round, they need Brugge to reclaim the league title when they face fifth-placed Royal Antwerp. Meanwhile, Union Saint-Gilloise will host Gent, and should they maintain their lead, they would take the seeded spot in the play-off round due to their higher standing in the UEFA coefficient table.

The implications of these matches are crucial for Rangers, who are looking to enhance their chances of progressing in Europe’s elite competition. The draw for the second qualifying round is set for June 18, with the two-legged ties scheduled for July 22-23 and July 29-30.

Across the city, Celtic’s prospects for Champions League play-off seeding are also closely tied to events in Croatia. Brendan Rodgers’ team automatically qualified for the revamped group stages this season but must navigate through a two-legged play-off round to secure their place among Europe’s elite once again.

Celtic fans will be rooting for either Rijeka or Hadjuk Split to thwart Dinamo Zagreb’s ambitions of winning the Croatian league title this weekend. Currently, Zagreb is level on points with Rijeka but leads on goal difference as they approach their final match against NK Varazdin. The unusual sorting rule in the Croatian league means that if teams are tied on points, head-to-head records will determine the champion, making this weekend’s matches all the more critical.

For Rijeka to clinch the title and secure Celtic’s seeded position in the play-off round, they must defeat Slaven Belupo or at least better Zagreb’s result. Meanwhile, Hadjuk Split, two points behind the leaders, has a complicated path as they hold an advantage over Zagreb in head-to-head matchups but fall short against Rijeka.

The stakes are high for both Scottish clubs as they prepare for the upcoming qualification rounds. The two-legged play-off to reach the league phase of the Champions League is scheduled for August 19/20 and 26/27, and both Rangers and Celtic are eager to ensure they enter this stage with the best possible seeding.

As the final fixtures of the season approach, the outcomes in Belgium and Croatia will play a pivotal role in shaping the Champions League ambitions of Rangers and Celtic. With both clubs aiming to make their mark on Europe, the drama of the domestic leagues adds another layer of excitement to an already thrilling conclusion to the season.