Rangers Champions League qualification a must as 95% Old Firm statistic revealed
Rangers will be fully aware of just how important the next couple of weeks are in terms of their prospects this season.
A huge tie awaits against Kilmarnock in the opening Scottish Premiership clash on Saturday (5 August), with Michael Beale desperate for his men to start their domestic campaign with three points.
But even with the need to close the gap on fierce rivals Celtic in terms of the Scottish league title, the Champions League qualification tie with Servette on Wednesday (9 August) should be viewed by Beale as a much more important game.
The Gers have already been handed a boost in their third qualifying round fixture in Europe’s elite competition by Servette knocking out Belgian outfit Genk, who would have definitely caused the Scottish side some major issues over the two legs.
Servette, on paper, should represent an easier task for the Ibrox outfit, but they did, of course, just knock out Genk, so they should not be treated lightly.
Complacency has gotten the better of Rangers in European qualification in the past, but new figures from football finance expert Kieran Maguire should provide the club with all the incentive necessary to make sure that doesn’t happen against Servette.
“Data provided to BBC Scotland by football finance expert Kieran Maguire tells us that Celtic and Rangers make up 70% of the Premiership’s total revenue,” according to BBC Sport.
“Their wages account for 69% of the league’s total, while they amount to 96% for combined squad costs. In 2021-22, they made up 95% of transfer fees in the division.”
As per BBC Sport, Maguire noted that the “real mover is qualification for European competition. In the SPFL, there’s a ceiling for broadcast revenue. That’s not the case in Europe.”
The Gers will not be too concerned about the other clubs in the Scottish Premiership, with fierce rivals Celtic the only side in their sights as the new season rapidly approaches.
Beale will want to focus on his squad and his squad alone, but the rivalry with their noisy neighbours is unavoidable, and will once again have a huge say in where the league title ends up next year.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has mooted a “leading role” for one Gers ace who has “endeared himself” to fans of the club.