No Conference needed – Celts are in good spot

IF ever the gulf between the Europa League and the newly created Conference League was painted in blindingly bright evidence then it was in Rangers and Celtic’s last 16 draws.

Dazzling yellow you could say with Borussia Dortmund heading to Ibrox and Bodo/Glimt Parkhead bound.

On one hand Erling Haaland and Marco Reus. On the other Erik Botheim and Marius Lode.

Rangers fans are preparing to face the Yellow Wall at the 80,000 Westfalenstadion while a handful of Hoops will need to acclimatise in the 5600-capacity Aspmyra Stadion.

No wonder the new third-tier competition has been dubbed the Intertoto Cup in some quarters. Even the Europa League seems a world apart.

Not that Celtic will be expecting a gimme against Glimt. But we’ll come to that in a second.

Because when it comes to the bottom line – as usual the prize money up for grabs – there’s not quite the same chasm. Which is good news for the Hoops.

Celtic beating Bodo would take them into the last 16 and a guaranteed €600,000 on top of the €300,000 they’ll bank for competing in the knockout play-offs.

Should Rangers make it past Dortmund they’ll be looking at a combined €1.7m in the Europa League. About double times the prize – but few would argue their task isn’t doubly difficult.

The odds on either extending their run surely lie more favourably with the Hoops.

Leicester and Marseille are two of the big guns left in the Conference League.

But are either taking the competition seriously? Not the Foxes if you go by Brendan

Rodgers’ comments. Slavia Prague would be no pushovers while Midtjylland have already proven a costly thorn in the Hoops’ side this term.

But Ange Postecoglou has a side which, come the middle of February, could well be capable of going much deeper in this competition.

And the carrot for making it all the way? A cool €5m for the winner and a not to be sniffed at €3m for the beaten finalists – on top of the €3.6m for getting there.

Not a bad top-up on the paltry Premiership prize pot.

However, if Celtic think they’re on to a certain winner against the Norwegians then they’d be advised to give Jose Mourinho a call.

The Special One’s

The odds on either Celts or Gers in Europe are better for the Hoops

Roma were given the bloodiest of noses in October when Kjetil Knutsen’s side dished out a 6-1 Europa League thumping.

Bodo lost just three times when seeing off the likes of Molde, Viking and Rosenborg to clinch the Norwegian title last weekend.

On the flip side if Rangers need any convincing that the mission against Borussia isn’t impossible then the fact the Bundesliga side finished behind Ajax and Sporting Lisbon in their Champions League group suggests they’re not quite as fearsome as years gone by.

But with Haaland in tow there’s no doubt Gio van Bronckhorst’s men are huge underdogs.

OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT