Rangers rise to coefficient challenge as Champions League grip tightened and Austria free run emerges

Rangers run to the last eight of the Europa League has put the rest of Europe on coefficient red alert as they tightened Scotland's grip on the top 10.

Gio van Bronckhorst's side are the only Premiership team left in Europe and saw off Red Star Belgrade on with an aggregate 4-2 victory.

Scotland are currently ninth in the coefficient table on 35.500 points after another impressive night in Europe for Rangers.

Having progressed through the to the next round the Ibrox side have earned Scotland 0.2 points - the equivalent of a win divided among the number of teams that entered European competition.

Serbia are in 11th on 33.375, after Red Star's win at the Marakana earned them 0.5 points.

Partizan Belgrade failed to add to the tally of points for their nation as they crashed out of the Europa Conference League at the hands of Feyenoord.

That ends Serbia's hopes of overtaking Scotland in the rankings this season and so next season's Scottish champions as well as the winners of the current campaign look certain of a spot in the group stage.

Russia sit in 10th spot on 34.482 but will be unable to add to their tally with Spartak Moscow dumped out of Europa League and RB Leipzig receiving a bye following the invasion of Ukraine. Whether the sanctions will continue into next season remains to be seen.

Austria are next on the agenda in eighth with 38.450 points and Rangers have a free run at eating into their advantage in the Europa League this season.

LASK were their last remaining representative and crashed out of the Europa Conference League at the hands of Slavia Prague.

Being in Europe's top ten has added further significance to the title race between this season as the Scottish Premiership winners go straight into the