Scottish Teams in Europe - Road to the Group Stage


The path to European group stage football for Scottish sides has become much clearer as a result of Tuesday’s draws. Rangers, Celtic, St. Johnstone, Aberdeen and Hibs are all in the running for places in the group stages of all three European competitions and in this article, I’ll be reviewing their potential pathways. 


Rangers

The Scottish Champions go into their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Malmö on Tuesday evening with ambitions to progress all the way to the group stage of the competition. The lucrative financial rewards Champions League football would bring to the Ibrox club could be prosperous. 


A shock defeat for Rangers versus Malmö would mean they would be in the Europa League play off against Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty or Alashkert, whom Celtic knocked out in Champions League qualifying three years ago. It would take an utter disaster although if Rangers lost this tie, they would progress to the group stages of the newly formed UEFA Europa Conference League. 


More realistically, should they overcome Malmö, Rangers will face a tough task against Greek champions Olympiacos or Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the Champions League play off. A loss here would see them fall into the Europa League group stage, which they have graced for the past three seasons. 


It is eleven years since Rangers last qualified for the Champions League Group Stages. During that time, their fans have travelled from Fraserburgh to Forfar. Because of how onerous Rangers’ play off could be, they will need everyone at the top of their game. 


Celtic

In the past couple of years, Celtic have suffered shock defeats in Champions League qualifying to the likes of CFR Cluj and Ferencvaros. This season, it was Midtjylland who dumped the Hoops’ out of the competition at the second qualifying round. The saying “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” has been uttered amongst Celtic fans although their European campaign is still very much alive and kicking however it may not be the standard of football they are seeking. 


They will take on FK Jablonec of the Czech Republic in the third qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday. Jablonec finished in third place in the Czech First League last season; 5 points behind Sparta Prague who defeated Celtic 4-1 twice in the Europe League group stages last season. A win in this tie will see the Bhoys line up against rousing Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League play off. A loss here would be unsurprising and would see Celtic play their European group stage football in the Europa Conference League.  However, don’t rule the Bhoys out just yet as new signings such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Carl Starfelt will have, no doubt, settled in by then. 


Should Ange Postecoglou’s men suffer their second successive knockout in Europe against Jablonec, they will face either a trip to Kazakhstan to play Tobol Kostany or MSK Zilina of Slovakia for a place in the Europa Conference League group stages. A catastrophic loss here would mean Celtic wouldn’t play European football this season however that is probably the most unlikely scenario in this article. 


I’m sure all Celtic fans will be eager for Ange Postecoglou to secure his first competitive win as manager. Thursday evening gives him an opportunity to do so. I’m sure Celtic will progress past Jablonec although facing off against AZ Alkmaar will be a perilous challenge. 


St. Johnstone 

St. Johnstone are about to embark upon their first European journey in four years. This is the furthest they have come in the Europa League since the 13/14 season despite not playing a game, that is thanks to their remarkable cup campaigns in 20/21. The McDiarmid Park club have yet to qualify for the group stages of a European competition and could become the first Scottish team outside the Old Firm to do so since Aberdeen reached the group stages of the Europa League in the 2007/08 season. 


In the 3rd round of Europa League qualifiers, the Perth Sainties will take on Turkish giants Galatasaray who finished as runners up in the Turkish Super Lig in 20/21, they lost out on the title by nine goals on goal difference. The first leg is in Turkey and a strong showing from Callum Davison’s men is vital. Should the Cup Double winners of 20/21 conjure up one of the biggest shocks of the round, they will face off against Randers for a place in the Group Stage of the Europa League. They are currently top of the Danish league albeit three games in. Similar to Celtic, if St. Johnstone lost this game, they would drop immediately into the Group Stages of the Europa Conference League. 


The likely scenario of defeat against Galatasaray would mean St. Johnstone drop down to the Europa Conference League. They would encounter Serbian side Vojvodina or LASK of Austria in a play off for a place in the group stages of the competition. Two successive defeats for the Perth side in the third round of Europa League qualifiers and the play off of the Europa Conference League would see St. Johnstone out of Europe all together. 


As I mentioned on Twitter, I think we will have at least three Scottish teams in the group stages of all the European competitions. St. Johnstone’s road there is probably the toughest of all Scottish sides outside the Old Firm. However, if they manage to capture their form of knockout competitions from last season, who knows where it could take them. 


Aberdeen

As we get into the Scottish sides that are taking part in Europa Conference League qualifiers, you will find it is fairly easier and simpler to understand. 


Under Derek McInnes, the furthest Aberdeen got in Europe was the 3rd Round of Europa League qualifying. In modern times, the club reached the last 32 of the Europa League (then UEFA Cup) in the 2007/08 season. As mentioned, they were the last Scottish side, outside the Old Firm, to qualify for the group stages of a European tournament. Back then, it was five teams in a group. Stephen Glass’ men have a real chance of doing it once again. 


After putting Hacken to the sword in a 5-3 aggregate win, the Dons will take on Icelandic side Breidablik in the 3rd Round of qualifying for the Europa Conference League. Win this, and Aberdeen will have to overcome Cypriot side AEL Limassol or Qarabag, from Azerbaijan, in a play off for the Europa Conference League group stages. If Aberdeen are to lose any of their ties, they will be eliminated from Europe. 


The Pittodrie team doubtlessly have the most favourable run to the group stages of Europe than any other Scottish side. It is a massive opportunity to kickstart the Stephen Glass era in the granite city by qualifying for their first European competition in 14 years. 


Hibs 

Hibs’ path to the Europa Conference League group stage is almost identical to that of Aberdeen’s. The only difference is the teams they could face. Hibs last European journey was in the 18/19 season when they successfully navigated past Runavik and Asteras Tripolis before being knocked out of the Europa League by Molde at the third qualifying round. Last seasons third place finishers in the SPFL will be hoping to qualify for the vroup stages of a major European tournament for the first time in their history. 


The Hibees won emphatically against Santa Coloma with a 5-1 aggregate score in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. They will be hoping to repeat the feat against Croatian outfit Rijeka. The side who finished third in the Croatian top flight last season knocked Maltese team Gzira United out in the previous round. A win for Jack Ross’ men against Rijeka would mean a play off versus either PAOK of Greece or Irish team Bohemians. Just like Aberdeen, should Hibs taste defeat in any round, they will be put out of Europe. 


It is high stakes for Hibs going into the game against Rijeka. By my reckoning, it will be an exceedingly tight tie that the Capital side might just edge with the likes of Kevin Nisbet and Martin Boyle coming to the fore. 


Rounding Off 

The formation of the new UEFA Europa Conference League has been unequivocally positive for Scottish football as a whole. There is now real optimism, hope and opportunity for more teams than just the Old Firm to qualify for group stages of European football. 

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