Celtic see automatic Champions League spot disappear as Rangers backdoor route remains open
The Scottish Premiership winners will not automatically qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League group stage because Scotland slid out of the top ten of the UEFA coefficient rankings.
The Czech Republic has surpassed us following Viktoria Plzen’s 0-0 draw with Fiorentina in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-final match.
The Czech team understood that a draw in either match would be enough to propel their country ahead of Scotland in the standings.
Celtic ended bottom of their Champions League group,
but they managed to get some points on the board thanks to a draw with Atletico Madrid and a last-day triumph over Feyenoord at Celtic.
Park.
But Scotland’s hopes rested with Rangers after Philippe Clement’s side recorded a stunning 3-2 away win at Real Betis to top their Europa League group and book their spot in the last 16.
A 2-2 draw in Lisbon against Benfica offered hope that Scotland would still have a representative in European competition to keep the Czech challenge at bay.
But a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox sent Gers crashing out and hoping for a Fiorentina favour against Plzen.
However, the Serie A side was held away from home,
rendering the Old Firm’s admittance ticket to Europe’s top table worthless for the next season,
as well as the guaranteed prize fund, which may make all the difference financially when it comes to bolstering the transfer coffers.
Rangers might still get in through the backdoor if they win the league next season and Scotland is rated 11th.
Their individual club coefficient ranking ensures a spot under the new Champions League structure,
which goes into force next season, as the highest ranked champion in qualifying.
That is assuming the 2024 Champions League winners have already qualified for the next season’s competition based on their league place,
which is highly plausible.
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