4 ways Rangers can guarantee Champions League mega millions as Celtic see rivals unlock glory route WITHOUT title win

dailyrecord.co.uk:

After Rangers’ damaging, but not fatal, defeat at Celtic Park at the end of 2023, their chances of regaining the Scottish Premiership title were dented.

Celtic are the bookies' favourites to win three in a row - their 12th title in the last 13 years – and the monumental £40m-plus of revenue that comes with the new UEFA Champions League.However, if that happens then the blow to Rangers could be softened as both they AND Celtic could qualify automatically for the first edition of the new 36 team Champions League – thanks to a brand-new access point that will be opened in the new tournament.

Over the last few years, if the UCL winner had already secured entry into the following season’s tournament through their domestic league (for example, finishing in the top four in England) then their automatic spot would go to the champion of the 11th ranked league.Scotland benefited from this ruling in season 2022/23 – as although we were ranked 11th and outside the automatic places, our champions, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic, still entered directly into the group stage WITHOUT having to play UCL qualifiers, by virtue of the UCL winners Real Madrid having already secured their own qualification through La Liga (as an aside, Russia’s expulsion from European football would have elevated us to a top 10 position that season anyway) Similarly, if the Europa League winner had already gained direct access to the UCL through their domestic league, then their automatic UCL entry ticket would go to the third placed team in the 5th ranked league (normally France)This all changes in the new format, which could be great news for Rangers - both this season and in future seasons.