Rangers were once again flying the coefficient flag for Scotland as the club continues on the warpath for an automatic Champions League place for Scotland and the £30m riches they reportedly guarantee.
Earning a 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague, Scotland remains in 11th place which – because the winners of the Europa League and Champions League are normally already qualified through their own domestic leagues – means an automatic qualification spot for Scottish sides.
The country’s main competitor for the spot – which would guarantee Champions League qualification in 22/23 for next season’s league winners – is Ukraine, who have two competitors remaining in European competition.
But the situation has been boosted by the fact both Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk lost their Last 16 ties in the Europa League this week, Kiev being dumped 2-0 by Villarreal in Ukraine and Shakhtar losing 3-0 to AS Roma in Italy.
Rangers are neatly poised in what promises to be a very close tie with Slavia and have the advantage having scored an away goal against the Czech side.
However this tie is far from over and Rangers will do very well to come through the Ibrox leg with a spot in the quarter finals of this season’s Europa League.
It remains very close between Scotland and Ukraine – a matter of .275 coefficient points – but Rangers can secure that coveted 11th place should results go their way next Thursday.
On top of this, excluding any bonuses received for Champions League qualification, unbeaten Rangers boast the best Euro coefficient points total in Europe, earning 19.5 alongside Tottenham Hotspur [UEFA].
Rangers put in a spirited display to leave the Sinobo Stadium with an advantage having initially started the 1-1 draw on the back foot.
