Rangers advantage over Celtic shared amid UEFA Champions League development on Thursday
ESPN journalist Dale Johnson has shared that Rangers have a major advantage over Celtic when it comes to Champions League qualification from next season.
The SPFL was hit with “bad news” after Viktoria Plzen drew with Fiorentina to overtake Scotland in the coefficient standings for the 2025/26 season, meaning Scottish champions will now have to qualify for the group stage.
But despite the blow, Rangers are at an advantage over their fierce rivals because their personal coefficient is almost double that of Celtic’s meaning they can take advantage of a new UEFA system being introduced where the Hoops cannot.
“Rangers are very well placed to benefit from the new system of reallocating the place reserved for the titleholders, if the titleholders also qualify domestically,” Johnson wrote on his personal Twitter account (11 April).
“Highest-ranked champions not to qualify automatically get promoted. They would have to win the league to get it.
“This isn’t the case for Celtic, who have had a series of poor seasons in Europe.
“Rangers’ coefficient is 63.000. Celtic’s coefficient is 32.000.
“If Rangers win the league, almost certain to go straight to Champions League group phase. If Celtic win the league, they’ll have to qualify.”
Rangers need Celtic to pull their weight in Europe
Rangers have been the best Scottish team in Europe for a while now, with a run to the Europa League final two years ago a huge reason behind their big coefficient.
Its also the only reason that Scotland were even still in the race for that position in the coefficients table, because without it the Czech Republic league will have been cruising ahead.
Rangers even made it to the last 16 of the tournament this year and claimed a vital draw against Benfica which would have helped a bit too, while Celtic just consistently lose regularly.
Now both teams are suffering as even winning the title doesn’t guarantee you a place in the Champions League from next season, and unless Celtic start pulling their weight on the continent there will be no way to rectify it any time soon.
Thankfully Gers can’t be punished for it just yet as their coefficient gets them in if they win the title, but that will only last so long. It’s time for Celtic to step up.
In other Rangers news, Four Lads hit back at Simon Jordan after what he said on Dundee controversy.
For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.