Celtic look likely to be seeded in each round of next season’s Champions League.
The hoops have taken advantage of that status in each of the last two season’s but next season qualification will be tougher with a number of changes taking place.
Only four group stage places are available from the Champions Route while a number of stronger nations are now involved that previously enjoyed direct entry to the lucrative group phase.
RB Salzburg, Ludogorets and Viktoria Plzen all have higher co-efficients than Celtic and are on course to win their league leaving one more seeded place for the Play-Off round.
Teams from Switzerland and Greece will be included in the Champions Rote next season with Basel and Olympiakos both carrying a higher co-efficient than Celtic.
While Brendan Rodgers’ side have the SPFL title within sight Basel and Olympiakos have their work cut out to win their leagues.
Basel, who reached the last 16 this season, trail Young Boys of Berne by 16 points and although they have a game in hand look like having to go into the Non Champions qualifying route.
As well as having Financial Fair Play issues to address Olympiakos are currently sitting in third place in the Greek League, one point behind PAOK and six behind leaders AEK Athens.
RB Salzburg (Austria), Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) and Ludogorets (Bulgaria) all have higher co-efficients than Celtic and are on course to win their leagues but with four Champions Route places available it will take either Basel or Olympiakos winning their league to prevent Celtic being seeded- IF they get through three qualifying rounds to reach the play-off round.
Next season’s qualifiers will involve eight matches played in successive midweeks.
CLICK HERE for the co-efficient table.