Gers take over Euro top rating
RANGERS have overtaken Celtic to become Scotland’s top performing side in Europe for the first time in nine years.
Steven Gerrard’s team have soared to 42nd place in UEFA’s five-year club ranking system on the back of recent Europa League adventures.
But their Old Firm rivals have slumped to 50th on the back of last year’s disastrous campaign.
Gers last sat above Celtic back in season 2011-12. When Ibrox boss Gerrard took over in 2018 he inherited a squad that had been humiliated by Progres Niederkorn 12 months earlier. But he has rebuilt them into an outfit that has now qualified for the group stage three years on the bounce, with both of the last two years’ European adventures ending at the last-16 stage.
Rangers missed out on reaching the Champions League for the first time since 2011 with last week’s shock defeat to Malmo but can now claim a fourth successive year in the Europa League groups if they see off play-off round opponents Alashkert in next week’s return clash.
Celtic were ranked 46th at the start of last season but have tumbled backwards after that nightmare campaign that saw the Neil Lennon’s team dumped out of the Champions League by Ferencvaros before finishing bottom of their Europa League group.
However, while Gers now sit above their bitter rivals in the five-year ranking system, the Hoops still lead the way when it comes to UEFA’s crucial 10-year category – which is used to divvy up prize money payments.
Celtic are currently placed 42nd in the list assessing form over the past decade, with Gers back in 114th spot.