Rangers have just been handed £30m in extra Champions League motivation ahead of their Old Firm clash with Celtic.
Only, it’s from the most unlikely of quarters.
The changing nature of European football’s elite competition heading into next season presents a number of UEFA permutations depending on the outcome of the continent’s domestic leagues.
Rangers – courtesy of their heightened coefficient score due to recent Euro exploits – could still automatically make the Champions League group stages even if, God forbid, they finish behind Celtic this season.
But a late rally from Portuguese surprise package Sporting Lisbon has presented a big challenge to that outcome with Rangers’ Primeira Liga back-up plan on the verge of being blown apart.
Sporting Lisbon’s Rangers Champions League motivation
Sporting Lisbon’s late 2-1 victory over Benfica in the Portuguese top flight has just added an extra dimension ahead of the Old Firm clash at Ibrox.
This is because the Portuguese side, who won courtesy of a late Geny Catamo goal v their Lisbon rivals, are now in pole position in the country’s top flight.
The result leaves Sporting four points ahead of Benfica with a game in hand and only seven games left to play.
Should Benfica finish second in Portugal, and Rangers second in Scotland, it would effectively consign the Gers to Champions League qualification.
As explained by useful X account Scotland’s Coefficient, this is because the top-ranked side in UCL qualification – which would be Benfica in this case – could potentially get a by to the group stages.
If it was Sporting Lisbon finishing second alongside Rangers, then both the Gers and Celtic would qualify for the revamped tournament given Rangers’ superior coefficient score against Ruben Amorim’s side.
If Celtic finish second in the Scottish Premiership, their inferior coefficient score guarantees they’ll have to go through some Champions League qualifiers.
All of this is predicated on the Europa League winners qualifying for the Champions League via their domestic league, which is where the spare spot comes from.
Old Firm victory can help narrow financial gap
Now we understand all this talk of UEFA coefficient points and potential Champions League permutations can be a little confusing.
But what shouldn’t be to Rangers fans is the lucrative potential of Champions League qualification, especially for next season.
UEFA are revamping the three continental competitions, adding even more games, with the revolutionary new league format set to boost participant’s coffers by a minimum of £30m.
That’s £30m on top of the already gargantuan fees clubs get for taking part.
We don’t have to tell you how big a guaranteed fortune like that is in Scottish football and as we try and bridge the financial gap with Celtic, a title win this season could be huge.
Qualifiers are tricky to navigate – as both sides of the Old Firm have found out over the years – and there’s certainly no Champions League guarantee via such a route.
The Sporting Lisbon result heaps additional pressure on Rangers in the title race but it’s also extra incentive heading into the clash with Celtic.
With the prestige of a title win at the forefront of fans’ thinking, the financial implications of claiming this year’s Scottish Premiership trophy is also monumental.
