A new season of European competition begins for Scottish sides on Thursday, even if Celtic won’t be involved for a few months.
These days, Celtic supporters can enjoy the summer months safe in the knowledge that no UEFA jeopardy will be heading our way.
We are already assured Champions League group stage football courtesy of our status as champions of the Premiership. Other Scottish sides aren’t so lucky.
Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian all have qualifiers to navigate over the next month. The latter begin their campaign against Andorran outfit Inter Escaldes on Thursday afternoon.
So as we prepare for another season of triumphant (or probably embarrassing) Scottish representation on the continent, how are we set as a nation?
Let’s take a look.
Scotland begins the new campaign in 9th position in the UEFA country coefficients table.
There is a one year lag in UEFA’s system, meaning that the position we finished last season will apply for the 2024/25 season. This season, we’re effectively playing for placing for the 2025/26 campaign.
9th place is enough for the champions to be guaranteed automatic Champions League group stage football. That’s why we know that this coming season’s league winners will also avoid qualifiers next term.
But things may not always be like that. Scotland earned only 3.500 points last season. A similarly dismal showing would likely see us drop down UEFA’s table.
10th place will also be guaranteed a spot in the Champions League’s new league phase. So, quite simply, that’s as far as we can afford to fall this season. That’s why it’s such an important year.
Belgium in 8th position look pretty uncatchable (currently 34.500 to our 29.650) so it’s all about looking over our shoulder at the likes of Switzerland, Austria and Turkey immediately behind us.
Celtic must try to improve on our showings from recent years in this crucial season, while we could also do with the likes of Rangers and Aberdeen picking up points in their guaranteed group stage matches.
Okay, just Aberdeen then.
Hearts or Hibernian also getting group stage football would be a massive shot in the arm.
Scotland benefitted from plenty of easy points in qualifiers in years gone by. Now a lot of those opportunities have gone. That’s obviously great news from a Celtic point of view, but it brings along difficulties too.
Let’s hope Hibs get things off to a good start in Andorra.
In other news, the latest update on every current Celtic first-team injury we know about
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
