Rangers ignite coefficient fire as Premiership clubs benefit from stuttering Euro rivals in top 10 race

Given the Scottish Premiership could have found itself sitting 12th in the UEFA coefficient rankings after this week's games, remaining 10th with a smaller gap to 9th than expected is a serious result.

Turkey had been primed to pull away with three strong sides in the Champions League and Europa Conference League respectively. But two of the trio were held, meaning Rangers' impressive 1-0 Europa League victory over Real Betis at Ibrox kept us within striking distance. Aberdeen also gave it a good go, but were 2-1 losers in Frankfurt.

Switzerland and Austria are the biggest threats to our automatic CL spot though. And given they managed just a singular 0-0 draw despite each having two teams in action meant Scotland was able to increase the gap slightly. The hope is that Celtic can up the points return when they get back to Parkhead on Matchday 2 after a 2-0 loss to Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Tuesday night. Lazio are the visitors to Glasgow next month with Atletico at home to follow.

We could have gotten even closer to Turkey but for a couple of improbable comebacks. Galatasaray came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with ten-man Copenhagen. The visitors' keeper Kamil Grabara described Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex as a "s******e' after the game, which naturally, wasn't well received by the notoriously placid and understanding Turkish home support. The Pole has since had death threats sent to him.

Besiktas left it late in their Europa Conference League group stage opener. Cenk Tosun scored two minutes from time to ensure they left Brugge with a point after Hans Vanaken had fired Ronny Deila's side into the lead. A 3-1 win for Fenerbache over Nordsjaelland did slightly increase Turkey's lead over Scotland in the