Latest news with #ChampionsPath
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
How Celtic & Rangers could benefit from SPFL rule change
These are the games scheduled to take place on the weekend of August 23/24, as published by the SPFL earlier today. With both Celtic and Rangers needing to progress via the play-off system this season, it's no coincidence the rule change has been passed by the SPFL. Last year, and in years gone by, the league has copped criticism from clubs involved in the play-offs who were unable to request postponements. For example, last August, Kilmarnock had to travel to Aberdeen away in between their two-legged Europa Conference League play-off against FC Copenhagen, which Derek McInnes highlighted on several occasions. As well as Glasgow's big two, Hibernian, Dundee United and Aberdeen could benefit from this new rule too. The Dons will enter the Europa League play-offs stage, and are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League league phase. Hibs and Dundee United will both need to progress through a couple of rounds to even reach the play-off stage of the Europa League and Conference League respectively. As for Celtic, we know they will be involved in the Champions League play-off on the Champions Path. After the league fixtures were published today, we now know they will play one of those games in week ahead of the derby away at Ibrox. If they wanted to postpone their matchday three fixture, this would see them push back a home clash against Livingston. As for Russell Martin's men, they will have to push past Panathinaikos before coming up against future opponents - potentially either Benfica or Club Brugge - to progress to the play-offs of the Champions League. However, they could also end up in the play-offs of the Europa League, or even the Conference League. So, should the Ibrox club find themselves in that situation, an away game against St Mirren could be postponed. It remains to be seen if any of the aforementioned sides will take up the option, but at least they have the autonomy to make that call.
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers and Celtic left facing awkward stick or twist fixture dilemma after major SPFL rule change
IT'S something the hierarchies at Rangers, Celtic and other Scottish Premiership clubs have long been publicly demanding of league bosses: give us more help in Europe. Well, now they've given that help - and the 2025-26 season promises to be the acid test of how it works in practice. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Brendan Rodgers Credit: Kenny Ramsay 4 Rangers FC press conference for new head coach Russell Martin Credit: Willie Vass That's because league bosses quietly introduced a new rule this season which allows all teams involved in European playoff round clashes to request postponements of their Scottish Premiership matchday 3 clash on the weekend of August 23/24. But with that fixture falling just seven days before the first Old Firm match of the season, it remains to be seen whether Rangers or Celtic take them up on it. It's no co-incidence why the rule has come into force this season - with both halves of the Old Firm needing to get through the playoff round if they are to reach the Champions League after drops to Scotland's coefficient meant the loss of an automatic spot. Hibs, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen, of course, could all take advantage of the rule too - with perhaps the safest bet all season being that Jimmy Thelin's Dons (already in the Europa League playoffs) choose to postpone their matchday 3 clash that weekend AGAINST Dundee Utd. Hibs, too, could see merit in pushing their trip to Falkirk back if they can make it past FC Midjyjtlland to reach that far. We already know for sure that Celtic will be involved in the Champions League playoff round on the Champions Path, giving them a game on either the Tuesday or Wednesday that week ahead of the Old Firm. The situation with Rangers is more complicated. While they too will still hope to be riding high in the Champions League qualifiers - where they likes of Benfica or Club Brugge are potential opponents - they could also end up in a Thursday night clash in the Europa League or even Conference League playoffs that week. Alternatively, were they to WIN their opening Champions League qualifier vs Panathinaikos then LOSE - they could be spared the chore of a playoff round clash altogether and drop straight from the UCL 3rd qualifying round direct into the Europa League groups. But after today's fixture reveal, we now know what both sides will face on matchday 3. Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return And on the face of it Rangers have been handed a far tougher fixture, away to St Mirren in Paisley. Over to Russell Martin then to decide whether he thinks it serves his team's interests better to postpone their trip to Paisley in order to prioritise his team's prep for a potential playoff round clash. 4 Celtic will surely fancy their chances of taking care of Livingston at home even if it means making a number of changes due to their European commitments. Depending on what happens in the early part of the season Martin, therefore, must weigh up the possibility of dropping three points behind Celtic at this stage of the campaign - particularly with the first Old Firm game of the season just a matter of days away. Dropping a distance behind the Hoops so early in the season will be something he won't want to contemplate. 4 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
How Celtic can be seeded in Champions League playoffs as 3 title winners hold the key
As the Hoops are sandwiched between various clubs in Uefa's coefficient table, their seeding status is up in the air Celtic face a two-legged playoff hurdle in their quest to qualify for next season's Champions League. Some tricky ties await the Hoops in August if they go into the round as one of five unseeded teams. But with various domestic champions still to be determined, there is a chance that Celts could be handed a so-called easier route. A total of ten teams will compete in the Champions Path - with Celtic, Bodo/Glimt and Basel already confirmed as a result of winning their respective leagues. However, as Celtic (39.000) are currently sandwiched between various clubs in Uefa's coefficient table, they are not guaranteed a seeded space. At the moment, Dinamo Zagreb (56.000), FC Copenhagen (44.875) and Ferencváros (39.000) are all on course to be crowned title-winners. Red Star Belgrade (44.000) have already wrapped up the league in Serbia. All four clubs - plus Bodo/Glimt (49.000) - are ahead of Celtic in the club rankings, meaning they would occupy the seeded section, but enter the qualifying phase at different stages. Crucially, the Glasgow giants can still bag a seeded spot IF there's a title upset in Croatia, Denmark or Hungary. Zagreb currently trails league leaders HNK Rijeka (9.000) by a single point with two games to go. FC Copenhagen boast a precious one-point advantage heading into their penultimate game, while Ferencváros are three clear with two fixtures remaining. Celtic would only require one of these projected teams to finish runners-up to guarantee a seeded spot prior to the start of qualifying. It's all ifs, buts and maybes. But one certainty is the date of the winner-takes-all playoff to reach the £30million promised land. Uefa have confirmed that the draw will take place on August 4 with the two-legged tie played on 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025. Should they advance past this stage, the league phase draw would take place on August 28. The Hoops do have the insurance policy of Europa League group stage football if they are to fall at the final obstacle. Projected Champions League playoff teams - Champions Path SEEDED Dinamo Zagreb (56.000) Bodo/Glimt (49.000) FC Copenhagen (44.875) Red Star Belgrade (44.000) Ferencváros (39.000) UNSEEDED Celtic (39.000) Basel (33.000) Sturm Graz (23.000) FCSB (22.500) Lech Poznan (16.000)
The National
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
How Man Utd win could affect Rangers' 2025/26 European hopes
Indeed, should Athletic be knocked out of this season's Europa League, which, barring a miraculous comeback at Old Trafford next week, looks likely, it means the Ibrox club will enter next season's Champions League via the League Path, and start at the second round of qualifiers, where they could play the likes of Servette, Brann or Austria Vienna. If Athletic won the competition and finished in a Champions League place in La Liga, though, due to Rangers' coefficient ranking, they would be bumped up to the Champions Path of UCL qualification and enter at the third round. Read more: That seems almost entirely out of the picture now, though, given this evening's first leg result. It would take something special for Athletic to recover in Manchester next Thursday and overturn a three-goal deficit. Rangers welcome Celtic to Govan this weekend in their third-last home game of the season. Barry Ferguson has yet to win at Ibrox in 90 minutes, although he will look to put that right on Sunday. He led his team to an emphatic victory the last time they faced Celtic, as goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, and Hamza Igamane secured a memorable 3-2 win at Parkhead. Brendan Rodgers' men haven't beaten Rangers in their last two attempts as they prepare to make the trip across the city.
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic Champions League playoff seeding latest as Bodo Glimt could boost Hoops but face a sweat over 5 title winners
It's a path that Celtic haven't had to navigate in recent years. But the nervy early Champions League qualifiers are back for the Hoops this summer in their quest to mix it with Europe's top boys. Brendan Rodgers' men put in a top performance in the newly revamped competition this season and secured a top 24-spot and with that booked a knockout play-off spot against Bayern Munich. They earned rave reviews for their performance over the tie, particularly at the Allianz Arena, with a last-gasp goal denying the Scottish champions a famous away day win to force the two-legged affair into extra-time. Instead Alphonso Davies' goal put the German giants into the hat and ending Celtic's journey in heartbreaking fashion. In order to enjoy memorable nights like that once more, the Hoops must navigate the play-off round safely. At this stage of the competition they will compete in the Champions Path which will consist of five seeded teams and five unseeded - and the Hoops are on course to be seeded which is a major boost. But that could change and Celtic will be hoping some things go their way. For starters Bodo/Glimt have been this season's shock troops in the Europa League and with the Norwegian champions seeded for the qualifiers next year, Rodgers and Co will be supporting them to go all the way and lift UEFA's second tier title - even if that means putting a major dent on Ange Postecoglou as they ace Tottenham in the semi-finals. Winning the competition bags an automatic Champions League place and means the Norwegians would bump up from the final stage of qualifying into the tournament proper - and free up guaranteed seeded space, which would be a welcomed boost to Celtic. Red Star have romped to the Serbian league crown while Olympiacos could be set to benefit from the Champions League winner rebalancing. This is because as Greek Super League winners, as it stands, would take the league phase winners' prize because they have the highest coefficient of all clubs currently top of their domestic leagues from associations 11-55. Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona and Inter Milan are the semi-finalists this term with all four either already qualified or well on course to do it through their league standing. So what do Celtic not want? Well, they don't want TWO of the following teams to taste domestic glory: FC Copenhagen, Shaktar Donetsk, Ferencvaros, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb - should Bodo not win the Europa League. Currently Ferencvaros hold a three point advantage at the top of the Hungarian league. It is just as tight in Denmark with Copenhagen sitting first with a one point lead over FC Midtjylland. Shakhtar Donetsk are 10 points behind in Ukraine in third spot while Salzburg trail four points behind in the Austrian League. Dinamo Zagreb missed a big chance to claw points back in Croatia and trail top two Rijeka and Hadjuk Split by four points. They face a massive game with Rijeka next time out before travelling to Hadjuk in a make or break couple of outings. One thing for sure for Celtic fans is the date of the Champions League play-off. UEFA have confirmed that the draw will take place on August 4 with the two-legged tie played on 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025. Should they advance past this stage the league phase draw would take place on August 28. The Hoops do have the insurance policy of Europa League group stage football if they are to fall at this final hurdle.
