Rangers save themselves AND Celtic with coefficient defiance as dogs of war grip onto Champions League golden ticket

The phenomenal form of Czech teams in Europe suggested it was a formality that they would rip Scotland's top 10 UEFA rankings position away and with it, automatic qualification for the Champions League group stage.

The Czech Republic has three clubs in the final 16 of European competition this season, compared to Rangers flying solo for Scotland. Only the big five European leagues have added more to their coefficient this season than the Czechs, and only THREE teams in all of Europe have earned more coefficient points than Viktoria Plzeň have. By contrast FIFTEEN nations have added more points than Scotland have this season, and we have been staring down the barrel of the repercussions.

However, Rangers' remarkable battling draw against Benfica in Lisbon on Thursday night means that Scotland are still clinging on to that crucial 10th place spot. We hold a tiny 0.5-point lead over the Czech Republic in 11th place, heading into the second legs next Thursday.

In the Europa League, the first leg results of the last 16 ties saw Philippe Clement's side earn a spirited 2-2 draw against Benfica, Sparta were blown away 1-5 at home to Liverpool, and Slavia also suffered a damaging loss; 4-2 in the San Siro against AC Milan. In the Conference League in Switzerland, Viktoria Plzeň could only draw 0-0 with Servette – and this could be the crucial tie.

Assuming Plzeň win their home leg, then they would add 0.5 points to the Czech Republic’s total – the exact amount they trail Scotland by. That result alone would move the Czechs ABOVE Scotland in the rankings regardless of what happens to the Prague teams (If two countries are tied in the rankings, then the deciding factor is the number of points scored in the most recent