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The Stakes Have Never Been Higher In The SPL Title Race

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher In The SPL Title Race
Jonathan Browne
By Jonathan Browne
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Celtic's revival under Ange Postecoglou continues and they now find themselves three points clear at the top of the table, and nine goals ahead on goal difference. It's set to be one of the most dramatic ends to the SPL season in years, and the stakes arguably have never been higher.

Of course, this year's SPL champions (and for the two years following) will qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.

This comes after the performance of Scottish sides in European competition over the past few years helping Scotland move up the coefficient rankings. They have jumped Serbia and Russia to enter the top 10 of UEFA's coefficient rankings and are almost guaranteed a group stage spot and a £40 million jackpot.

The only way they won't automatically qualify for the group stages is if the winner of this year's Champions League hasn't already qualified through their domestic league. That's only happened once since the European Cup rebranded to the Champions League, when Liverpool won the Champions League miraculously in Istanbul in 2005 while also finishing fifth in that season's Premier League.

And while the likes of Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Juventus theortetically could both win the Champions League and miss out on Champions League qualifying due to dismal league form, it's unlikely in the extreme given the form of PSG, Man City and others.

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Both Rangers and Celtic have steadily improved in the Europa League over the past few seasons. Rangers have recovered from missing out on Europe altogether in 2017 when they lost to Luxembourg outfit Progres Niederkrom in the qualifying rounds.

Since then, under the tutelage of Steven Gerrard, Rangers have reached the Group Stage of the Europa League in each of the last four seasons and reached the round of 16 in each of the last two. At the moment they are looking good to go through to the round of 16 again this season after an impressive 4-2 win against Borussia Dortmund away in Germany in the first leg of their tie.

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Celtic haven't been as successful as their Old Firm rivals but nonetheless have done pretty good. They have reached the group stage of the Europa every season for the last 4 seasons, but have only progressed to knockout rounds in two of those seasons. They are currently in the Europa Conference League where they trail Norway's Bodø/Glimt 3-1 after the first leg

With the title race heating up in Scotland this season, the added boost of Champions League money is just another factor to add to the drama as we come to home stretch of the Scottish Premiership season.

Celtic have been in brilliant form under Ange Postecogluou - winning the most recent Old Firm derby and holding off Dundee on Sunday to find themselves three points clear on the table.

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After a rocky start, the Australian has proven to be an inspiration, and understands exactly what the club is about.

See Also: Lack Of Away Goals Rule May Favour Manchester United Against Atletico Madrid

Champions League: No Away Goals Rule May Favour Manchester United

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