A quick look at the UEFA co-efficient situation after our dead rubber defeat in Cluj and the Rangers missing out on top spot in their group by conceding a late equaliser against Young Boys on Thursday night at Ibrox.
That incidentally was a very costly goal for Scottish football in terms of the co-efficient rankings but perhaps more importantly for the cash strapped Ibrox club who paid a heavy financial penalty from missing out on the win. And of course had they won that game they would have been seeded in the round of 32, that now is not the case.
“Rangers through but losing that goal has cost them €880,000, it could’ve been €570k for the win (now €190k) and €1m for winning the group (now €500k for finishing second). Rangers are now also not seeded for the last 32. They join group winners and seeded Celtic,” Inside the SPFL tweeted.
Rangers through but losing that goal has cost them €880,000, it could’ve been €570k for the win (now €190k) and €1m for winning the group (now €500k for finishing second)
Rangers are now also not seeded for the last 32.
They join group winners and seeded Celtic.
— Inside The SPFL (@AgentScotland) December 12, 2019
The 1-1 draw with Young Boys follows on from their 1-0 defeat to Celtic in the League Cup Final at Hampden – where they missed a penalty – and the 2-2 draw at Pittodrie – where they allowed Aberdeen to come back from being 2-0 behind. The Rangers go to Fir Park tomorrow to play an on-form Motherwell side who will fancy their chances of extending the winless run for Steven Gerrard’s side to four matches.
Back to the co-efficient analysis and the best person to summarise this is usually the excellent Moravcik67. Here’s what he’s being saying on Twitter with a few questions answered too. First though a reminder from Moravcik67 on who Celtic can get in the next round which is drawn on Monday.
“Here’s who Celtic can play in the last 32 of the Europa. We’ll be away in the 1st leg, barring an unlikely change from UEFA. Some tough teams in there”…
APOEL
Copenhagen
Getafe
Sporting
Eintracht Frankfurt
Ludogorets
Wolfsburg
Roma
Wolves
AZ
Leverkusen
Shakhtar
Brugge
Olympiakos
Here’s who Celtic can play in the last 32 of the Europa. We’ll be away in the 1st leg, barring an unlikely change from UEFA. Some tough teams in there.
APOEL
Copenhagen
Getafe
Sporting
Eintracht Frankfurt
Ludogorets
Wolfsburg
Roma
Wolves
AZ
Leverkusen
Shakhtar
Brugge
Olympiakos— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) December 12, 2019
1. Coefficient stuff.
Celtic’s loss, the Zombies draw, and APOEL’s win means that Cyprus are back ahead of Scotland in 15th.
The gap is less than a single draw worth of points. Scotland have the advantage, with 2 clubs. Kind/Hard draws either way could decide it.
2. Other countries with a slim chance.
Greece – Need Olympiakos to win 3 more games to hit 15th.
Switzerland – Need Basel to win 5-6 more games to reach 15th.
That’s without Celtic, Rangers or APOEL picking up any more points. It’s likely a shootout between Scotland & Cyprus.
Q. Ideal scenario then would be for Celtic to draw Apoel and knock them out.
A. Yes. But the Scottish teams would need to win a couple of games more than Copenhagen along the way.
Q. If we draw Copenhagen and beat them home and away then we finish above Denmark and the Czech Republic, no?
A. Yep.
CONCLUSION. So ideally draw Apoel and pump them home and away….job done.
APOEL. Figured Sevilla would take care of APOEL Thursday, even in a dead rubber game for them. But they missed a PK at 0-0 and went down 1-0. Scotland still has a good chance to pass Czech Republic.
2. Other countries with a slim chance.
Greece – Need Olympiakos to win 3 more games to hit 15th.
Switzerland – Need Basel to win 5-6 more games to reach 15th.
That's without Celtic, Rangers or APOEL picking up any more points. It's likely a shootout between Scotland & Cyprus.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) December 13, 2019
