Rangers have been given a gigantic boost that will not benefit Hearts or Celtic at all. Obviously, as we know, there is a mammoth title race taking place in the Scottish Premiership this season, with the whole thing coming down to the final six matches. However, there are also the question of European spots and specifically the Champions League. Europe’s premier club competition is, of course, the promised land in European football and indeed in football in general. The top three, of course, especially the winner would be expected to go into the best position in the Champions League. But that will not be the case amid Rangers Champions League boost.
The coefficient reality
In reality, Rangers and Greek giants Olympiacos are in a head to head fight to secure that automatic Champions League spot. That is a Champions League spot neither Hearts nor Celtic can secure even by winning the title. This is because their own individual coefficient is not strong enough. Their club points are not high enough for the past five years. Rangers’ individually are, which means that Rangers would stand to get entry into the Champions League automatically, but only if Olympiacos, who have a superior coefficient to Rangers, do not. This is something widely covered across football coverage.
Rangers’ position in Europe has been building for years, and the rewards are massive. The potential financial gain and exposure underline why this matters so much, with the prize effectively described as a £60M jackpot.
Greece becomes decisive
Athens giants AEK did Rangers a big service when they beat Rangers’ big rivals to that spot. The Greek Super League is now down to its split as well. The championship group contains four clubs and Olympiacos are now five points behind Athens for that final spot. That is to say, they are five points behind and Athens lead the way towards the title in Greece, a situation also tracked by broader Champions League analysis.
This situation highlights the strange paradox Rangers often face domestically and in Europe. This is something previously explored in the Champions League and SPL paradox.
What it means for Rangers
Should Athens prevail, should AEK secure that title for themselves, then Olympiacos will be completely redundant. If Rangers then win the league in the UK, in Scotland, that secures the final automatic spot. It is all about both countries’ split and championship groups. It is an extraordinary end, but AEK have done Rangers a big service with that victory. This is something that doesn’t benefit Hearts or Celtic should they win the league.
Of course, the wider context remains that Rangers simply cannot afford to miss out on this level again, as has already been stressed in discussions about why Rangers cannot afford to miss the Champions League.
Olympiacos have five matches to make up a deficit of five points. Not impossible, but not super likely either at this point. But of course, who knows exactly how the game is going to go. Ultimately, if Athens do indeed secure that title in Greece, then Rangers, if Rangers secure the title in Scotland, get the automatic spot and Rangers Champions League boost.