Our man Scott Burns wants to see four Premiership clubs in the group stage – but has a dream beyond that
11:31, 24 Jul 2025Updated 18:54, 24 Jul 2025
Champions League and Europa League trophies
It seems like the Holy Grail but wouldn’t it be great if Scotland’s clubs could make it a fantastic four in Europe for the first time.
Seeing four of our Premiership sides in the group stages would be some achievement, getting five in would be utter utopia.
The good news is that we already have two teams with that guarantee.
Celtic and Aberdeen are already assured of European group stage football. Brendan Rodgers’ side go into the Champions League play-off.
The Hoops will be looking to progress through that and into the competition proper but if they don’t then they would automatically drop into the Europa League sections.
Scottish Cup-winning Aberdeen are similar. They go into the final play-off for the Europa League and know that they also have the fallback of dropping into the Conference League.
The champions and the Dons will find out who they face in their respective draws next month.
Rangers have also taken a massive step towards joining them with their 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox.
If Russell Martin’s side can finish the job in their Champions League qualifier in Greece next week then they would also be guaranteed group stage football.
The eternal hope within Ibrox is that it will be in the top tournament rather than dropping down the tiers.
We’ve been in this position in the past where we have had three teams in group stage football.
It is normally Celtic, Rangers and either Hearts or Aberdeen.
Wouldn’t it be a major boost for the league, the country and coefficient if we could go, at least one better?
It might also be our best chance for a few years, as from next season Scotland will no longer get a third spot that will guarantee group stage football.
Why can’t Hibs upset the odds and dump out Midtjylland?
Yes, the Danish side have a European pedigree and more financial muscles but can they not be toppled?
It would take a monumental effort but David Gray’s side will also go into it with confidence.
Hibs gaffer David Gray
They have come off a brilliant season and have managed to keep the majority of that squad together and also added genuine quality.
The Easter Road board has shown a serious statement of intent with the club record signing of Thibault Klidje and the ambitious capture of Josh Mulligan from Dundee.
The club are moving forward and Gray admitted one of their main goals is to make the group stages for the first time.
They thought they had it when they finished third, until Aberdeen decided otherwise and shocked Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final.
Wouldn’t it also be great for the Hibs fans if they could get there either via the Europa League or Conference League?
Certainly, if they can see off Midtjylland then they would meet Norwegian side Fredrikstad.
The biggest challenge there looks to be the one that kicks off tonight in MCH Arena.
If Hibs were to drop into the Conference League then it would be Partizan Belgrade or Oleksandriya.
The Serbs are no longer the force they once were and the Ukrainian side has its own troubles to seek, having to play in Poland.
So why can’t Gray make more Hibs’ history?
They have had to watch as their city rivals, Hearts, have milked it twice over the last three seasons, with Aberdeen in between.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin
It is the same for Dundee United. They take on UNA Strassen tonight at Tannadice.
The tie against the Luxembourg side should certainly be winnable.
If, fingers crossed, they also progress then they would face the winners of Decic v Rapid Vienna.
If it was to be the Austrians then again United would be the underdogs but why can’t they bite?
Rapid aren’t the same force they were and there also seems to be a right bit of momentum the Jim Goodwin is building at Tannadice.
For too long, there has been an acceptance that some of our clubs get through a couple of rounds and that is good enough.
They get drawn against a half-decent name, put up a fight and go out in glorious failure.
It is about time we took things to another level.
Wouldn’t it be great if it started now!