Hearts and Celtic Confirm Champions League Qualifiers
Hearts will participate in the Champions League qualifiers next season for the first time in two decades following Celtic's victory over Rangers on Sunday. This result has guaranteed both Glasgow clubs a top-two finish in the Scottish Premiership.
Supporters of Derek McInnes' team had hoped for a Celtic defeat in the Old Firm derby to improve their title prospects. However, Martin O'Neill's side's win means Rangers can now finish no higher than third place.
This outcome marks the first occasion since McInnes' Aberdeen achieved consecutive top-two finishes in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons that the Glasgow clubs have been separated in the standings.
Champions League Qualification Details
The Scottish Premiership runners-up will enter the Champions League at the second qualifying round, requiring them to progress through three ties to reach the group stage.
The Premiership champions advance directly to the play-off round, the stage at which Celtic were eliminated by Kazakh side Kairat Almaty earlier this season.
Hearts aim to be the club entering at this later stage after securing their first league title since 1960.
They can guarantee this by defeating Falkirk at home on Wednesday and then avoiding defeat at Celtic Park on Saturday. If Hearts win in Glasgow, the midweek result when Celtic visit Motherwell will not affect their qualification position.
Hearts' European History and Rangers' Prospects
Hearts last appeared in the Champions League qualifiers following the 2005-06 season, finishing second behind Celtic. They defeated Siroki Brijeg from Bosnia & Herzegovina in the second qualifying round before being eliminated by AEK Athens in the subsequent round.
Rangers are set to compete in the Conference League qualifiers unless Celtic win the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline Athletic. Should Celtic secure the cup, Danny Rohl's team would be promoted to the Europa League preliminary rounds.
