Rangers and Hibs strike first coefficient shootout blows as Swiss challengers stumble in UEFA rankings race

Rangers and Hibs have both struck coefficient blows against Swiss opposition this week, amid the western Europe nation rising up the UEFA rankings at a rapid rate.

Automatic Champions League group stage placement has been a lovely luxury for Celtic and the Premiership winners this season will hope that remains the case going into the 24/25 campaign, which brings about a revamped 36-team format. Michael Beale also want in the groups for this season and need to get past Servette and either PSV or Sturm Graz to reach that lucrative frontier. Aberdeen want in the Europa League while Edinburgh rivals Hibs and Hearts are seeking Europa Conference League placement.

Scotland, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey and Serbia are battling it out for places ninth to 12th in the UEFA coefficient rankings, which give different rewards. Ninth is where Scotland sit, and that serves a minimum of one Champions League group stage spot and up to three group stage spots across the top European competitions, Tenth and 11th provide an automatic Champions League and Europa League group stage place while 12th gets a single automatic spot in Europe's elite competition.

Coefficient points are calculated by the average points obtained. This works by dividing the total points a team accumulates by how many clubs represent them in European competition. Each victory is worth two coefficient points, with draws earning one point.

Heading into the Hibs match, Switzerland had 0.700 for the season and Scotland 0.400. So wins over Rangers and Hibs over Servette and Luzern provide a major boost to the nation retaining ninth but there's much work to be done in the second legs.

Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier goals gave Beale's men a one-goal lead in Geneva after a