Following yesterday night’s European results, Scotland’s automatic Champions League position appears to be slipping away.
Sparta Prague’s incredible comeback to defeat Galatasaray 6-4 on aggregate in the Europa League last night has further elevated the Czech Republic, who are currently leading the coefficient standings. There are currently three teams vying for more points, with the Rangers being the only team still present.
Following today’s last-16 draw, the Light Blues may play Sparta, while Viktoria Plzen and Slavia, two local rivals, will still play in the Conference League. Scotland’s coefficient explains how the outstanding win last night gave the Czechs an additional 0.75 points, moving them up to 11th place in the standings with 35.3 points.
Scotland has 35.85 points, which puts them in 10th place. As previously noted, we only have one team trying to gain more points than they do.
The Czech team’s ascent was fueled by the fact that they scored 19 of the 27 possible group stage points, while Aberdeen, Celtic, and Rangers combined for just six.
Dropping out of the top 10 would mean Scotland kissing goodbye to that automatic group stage spot the Hoops and Gers have benefited from in recent years.
The winners of this year’s Premiership will stay go straight in but the change would kick in thereafter. The £35m prize pot for qualifying will be doubled from next year and both Glasgow clubs will be determined to keep that life-changing cash within their grasp.
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