Scottish Premiership Clubs Make Unforgettable European History: The Astonishing Feats of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, and Hibernian
Scottish Premiership teams make historic strides in European competitions: Celtic secures Champions League group stage spot, Rangers on the verge with PSV clash, Aberdeen vying for Europa League qualification against BK Hacken, and Hearts and Hibernian in Conference League playoffs Game-changing coverage on Sky Sports
As August draws to a close, Scottish clubs' European journeys often take a disappointing turn, leaving a lingering sense of missed opportunities. Last season, Motherwell's shocking defeat to Sligo Rovers and Dundee United's record-breaking loss against AZ Alkmaar left a bitter feeling.
This time, things are significantly different. It has never occurred before that five Scottish clubs have featured in the group stages during a single season. However, this dream is still very much alive as we head into the play-offs. Hibernian and Hearts had a remarkable night on Thursday and secured their places in the Europa Conference League playoffs. The capital clubs now await their matches against Aston Villa and PAOK respectively.
Rangers still have their Champions League aspirations intact, and Aberdeen is aiming for qualification in the Europa League. Additionally, Celtic has successfully secured their spot in Europe's top tier with another upcoming Champions League group stage campaign.
What the history books say...
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Celtic were drawn in the same Champions League group as Real Madrid last season
Between 2008 and 2022, only Celtic and Rangers represented Scotland in European group stages, until Hearts broke that streak last season. In recent years, Aberdeen, Hibs, Dundee United, Motherwell, and St Johnstone have all attempted but failed to progress beyond the play-off stage in different competitions.
It has therefore been down to the Old Firm clubs, and Hearts, to improve that all-important coefficient to its current position of ninth.
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Rangers beat PSV Eindhoven to reach last season's Champions League group stages
Scotland's position in the top 15 allows for the inclusion of two teams in the Champions League discussion and a total of five teams participating in European competitions. However, the absence of victories in the Champions and Conference Leagues last season will negatively impact Scotland's coefficient starting from the 2024-25 season, coinciding with the introduction of the new 36-team group stage format for the Champions League.
Celtic
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Celtic failed to win a match in the Champions League last season
Celtic fans are familiar with European action, but last season marked their return to the Champions League group stages since manager Brendan Rodgers led them there in his initial tenure. Under Ange Postecoglou, the Hoops had a challenging time in the 2022/23 campaign, finishing at the bottom of Group F with a mere two points.
This time around - Rodgers will be hoping to create more happy memories akin to some of those during his previous two Champions League group-stage campaigns with the club.
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Celtic won away in the Champions League for the first time under Rodgers
He led Celtic in European competition on 42 occasions, emerging victorious in 16 matches. Notably, they achieved draws against Manchester City both at home and away, and clinched their maiden away triumph in the tournament with a resounding 3-0 win against Anderlecht in Brussels.
However, amidst the moments of joy, there have been certain distressing outcomes. Celtic suffered a 7-0 defeat against Barcelona during their inaugural season under Rodgers, followed by a devastating 7-1 loss at the hands of PSG in their subsequent campaign.
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Celtic secured back-to-back draws against Manchester City
The manager will be eager to erase the memory of his inaugural European game leading the Parkhead side. They suffered a 1-0 loss to the underdog Gibraltarian team, Lincoln Red Imps, in the initial match of the second-round qualifier. Neil Lennon oversaw Celtic's advancement to the knock-out stages during the 2012-2013 season, however, they were defeated 5-0 overall by the formidable Italian team, Juventus.
The group stage awaits Rodgers and Celtic - the target will be to improve on last season as the champions mix it with Europe's elite.
Rangers
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Rangers defeated Servette to advance to the Champions League play-offs, marking their return to the prestigious tournament after an absence of over ten years. However, their previous season in the Champions League was forgettable, as they ended up with the poorest performance in the group stage in history.
Zero points and several significant losses, such as a 7-1 defeat against Liverpool at home, made for unimpressive viewing. However, they now have the opportunity to regain their place on the main stage and strive for a more dominant performance.
After securing a 3-2 aggregate victory over Servette in the third qualifying round, they set up a play-off against PSV Eindhoven for the second consecutive season. Rangers shocked the Dutch team last year, eliminating them with a 3-2 aggregate score.
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Rangers suffered a crushing 7-1 defeat in their Champions League match against Liverpool at home. This loss comes as a stark contrast to their impressive run two seasons ago, when they made it to the Europa League final. Michael Beale, who was formerly a first-team coach at Ibrox, was also part of that memorable campaign before departing with Steven Gerrard to join Aston Villa.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his team defeated Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, and RB Leipzig before ultimately losing to Eintracht Frankfurt in the final. While qualifying for the group stage is certain in the Europa League, the fans and players aspire to experience the Champions League once more.
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Rangers have made it to the final of the Europa League in 2022. The current squad has undergone a significant revamp with the addition of nine new players during the summer transfer window. However, the team still retains players from the group that reached the final in Seville. Their presence brings valuable experience, which could be crucial as Rangers aim to make a mark on the European stage once more.
Aberdeen
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Aberdeen last played BK Hacken in 2021
Aberdeen are certain to participate in the group stage of the Conference League. However, they will compete in the Europa League if they succeed in winning their playoff match. The Dons will confront BK Hacken, a Swedish team that they eliminated from European competition in 2021.
The Scottish club secured a 5-3 win, building on their impressive 5-1 victory in the initial leg. Barry Robson's team will travel to Gothenburg for the first leg next Thursday, a city where they famously defeated Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup final.
Aberdeen's last appearance in a group stage was in the 2008 UEFA Cup. For the upcoming season, fans can anticipate a minimum of eight European events, which will not only bring excitement but also provide a significant financial boost for the Pittodrie club.
Hearts
Hearts staged an exhilarating comeback against Rosenborg, ensuring their chances of another season in European football remain alive.
In a gripping Europa Conference League third-qualifying round encounter, Cammy Devlin delivered the decisive blow in stoppage time, propelling Hearts to a stunning 4-3 victory over Rosenborg. This win saw them overturn a two-goal deficit on aggregate and secure their place in the next round.
They now face a play-off with Greek side PAOK as they look to reach the Europa Conference League group stages for the second year running.
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Hearts played in Champions League qualifying in 2006.
Hearts generated revenues of approximately £5m last season through their matches against Istanbul Basaksehir, Fiorentina, and RFS, with a notable drop in performance.
In 2006, the Jambos managed to qualify for the Champions League once, defeating Bosnian champions Siroki Brijeg in the initial round but ultimately falling to AEK Athens in the third qualifying round.
Hibernian
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Hibs beat Luzern to reach the Europa Conference League play-offs
Hibs secured a spot in European football after a one-year absence by finishing fifth in the Scottish Premiership. Their return has been impressive, particularly in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. They comfortably defeated Inter Club D'Escaldes 6-1 in the second qualifying round and continued their winning streak by defeating Swiss team Luzern. As a result, Hibs have set up an exciting match against Aston Villa in the play-offs.
It will mark a return for former Easter Road hero John McGinn, who was part of their 2016 Scottish Cup-winning team, as Villa's captain.
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John McGinn left Hibs for Aston Villa in 2018
After winning the Scottish Cup, Hibs advanced to the Europa League qualifiers the next season. However, they were defeated by Danish club Brondby in a penalty shootout. Hibs made another appearance in the competition in 2018, reaching the third qualifying round before being eliminated by Swedish team Molde.
After finishing third in the Premiership in 2020 they entered the newly established Conference League, beating Andorrans Santa Coloma before losing to Croatian side Rijeka.
'Tremendous' for the game
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Neil Doncaster, CEO of the SPFL, expressed his admiration for the Scottish clubs participating in European competitions. In an interview with We, he conveyed his anticipation for the potential successes that may await them this season.
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I'm thrilled to see the impressive performance of SPFL clubs in Europe this year. While it is still early stages in some competitions, the progress made by so many Scottish clubs is fantastic news for our game. This not only raises the profile of Scottish football across Europe but also generates significant commercial revenue from UEFA competitions. The exceptional displays we witnessed in the past week stand as a testament to the hard work put in by the clubs in recent years, and we eagerly anticipate further success in the upcoming season.
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