Celtic and Rangers face Champions League nightmare as two clubs threaten automatic place

Celtic and Rangers were handed a Champions League boost after Chelsea beat Lille 2-0 in the first leg of their last 16 tie, but other fixtures still have the automatic group stage place under threat.

It's likely that the winner of this season's Premiership title will go straight into the competition next season, bringing a windfall of around £40million.

However, if the winners of this season's Champions League have not qualified via their domestic league then Scotland's champions would still have to go through qualification, entering at the play-off round.

That scenario hasn't happened since 2012 when Chelsea lifted the trophy while finishing fifth in the English Premier League, and the big favourites for the competition have all-but secured their places already.

Despite that though there are some dark horses who could see Rangers or Celtic locked out of that automatic group place.

Lille's defeat at Stamford Bridge makes it unlikely they'll qualify for the next round, a significant boost given the Ligue 1 champions are 10 points off an automatic place domestically.

But Villarreal and Juventus drew and either side could potentially take that group stage place if they go all the way.

The Italian giants are currently fourth in Serie A but Atalanta are just three points behind them and have a game in hand.

Meanwhile Villarreal are three points off a Champions League spot in La Liga so, as it stands, they would deny the Premiership champs a place.

Wednesday's fixtures are also ones to keep an eye on.

Ajax are basically guaranteed to be in the group stage next season via their Eredivisie form but opponents Benfica are six points off an automatic place.

If they were to lift the curse of Bela Guttman by finally winning a