Celtic’s Champions League win boosts Scotland co-efficient

Celtic’s 5-1 drubbing of Slovan Bratislava is not just a crucial short-term win but could paint a huge long-term victory at the end of the season for Scotland’s coefficient…

Scotland currently sits 17th in the coefficient table after consecutive extremely poor performing seasons. Languishing behind Denmark and Greece, Scotland must clinch that top 15 spot by the end of the season to guarantee five teams entering Europe and two teams in Champions League qualifying.

For a while, Scotland sat in the top 10 places which guaranteed our cup winners at least Europa Conference League football. Failure to reach a top 15 spot this season, and Celtic will be staring down returning to Champions League qualifier after Champions League qualifier – something that we thought was in the past.

However, it was a terrific start for Celtic and for Scotland’s coefficient on Wednesday evening as Celtic added 0.4 points to the nations table. Celtic already received a total of 1.2 coefficient points for qualifying for this seasons Champions League phase.

With theRangers and Hearts kicking off their Europa League and Europa Conference League adventures imminently, Scotland will be looking to add to the 2.6 points they have accumulated so far.

The three other home games for Celtic are undoubtedly where the Hoops can capitalise on reaching that illusive top 24 spot. Winnable games against Young Boys, Club Brugge and Leipzig coupled with a favourable fixture in Croatia against Dinamo Zagreb will surely result in Celtic bolstering Scotland’s chances of finishing in the top 15 this season.

You would have to go back to the 2019/2020 season where Celtic contributed more than 2 points to Scotland’s coefficient. Three wins at Celtic Park against Rennes, Cluj and Lazio whilst securing our first win on Italian soil at the Stadio Olympico was the last time a Hoops side progressed from a European group stage.

The position Celtic find themselves in is now one that must be capitalised on. UEFA grant clubs 0.4 points for a win and having already added 1.6 points to our coefficient, the aim must be to reach 3 coefficient points by January. This would not only give Celtic a platform to go up against the elite in the latter stages of Europe’s top club competition, but it would also decrease the chances of in the longer term having to start our competitive campaign in the middle of July.

Conor Spence

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About Author

A current third year student studying History and Journalism, Media and Communications at the University of Strathclyde and now writing regularly about the Hoops for The Celtic Star.

1 Comment

  1. I’m sure Scotland need to be in the top 10 in the Association Coefficient table to be given 2 places in the CL.

    Outside the top 15 would mean our Champions would need to win 3 CL Qualifiers.
    Our Runners Up would need to win 3 Qualifiers in the CONFERENCE LEAGUE.
    The Scottish Cup winners would need to win 4 Europa League Qualifiers.

    Between 11th and 15th place would still only mean our Champions would need to play 2 Qualifiers.
    Runners Up would play Europa League Qualifiers instead of Conference League Qualifiers,if we finish outside the Top 15 places.