Rangers have been handed several big advantages over Celtic regarding qualification for 2021/22 European club competitions, with dates and details now confirmed [Daily Record].
Scotland’s coefficient has improved considerably recently – largely due to the Gers’ relative Europa League success over the past few campaigns – meaning that two Premiership clubs will enter the Champions League qualifiers next season.
Celtic will take up the other spot, but the fact that Rangers are champions does ensure that they will be given preferential treatment to their rivals.
Firstly, the Gers enter Champions League qualifying in the Third Round, while the Hoops start off in the Second Round. This means that Rangers only need to get through two two-leg ties to reach the group stages, while Celtic will have to negotiate three.
Kicking off their qualifying campaign in the Third Round also means that Rangers will have a later start date than their rivals, with their first tie set to get underway on 3rd or 4th August, rather than 20th or 21st July [Daily Record].
That means the Premiership season will be well underway before the Gers’ European campaign begins, so there’s no chance of them being rusty.
Additionally, Steven Gerrard’s side will enter qualifying in the ‘Champions Path’, which should lessen their chances of being drawn against a high-profile opponent, particularly in the Third Round.
Contrastingly, Celtic will not be afforded such protection.
Finally, Rangers will also enter qualifying knowing that they have a double safety net that their rivals from across the city do not.
Should the Gers fall at the first hurdle in Champions League qualifying, they would drop into the play-off round of Europa League qualifying.
Even if they then lost that tie, their European campaign wouldn’t be over, though, as they would drop into the group stages of the inaugural Europa Conference League.
Therefore, while both Old Firm clubs have a chance of success in European competition next season, it’s Rangers who hold all the aces.
