![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_FC-Shakhtar-Donetsk-Donetsk-v-AZ-Alkmaar-UEFA-Conference-League-202526-Quarter-Final-First-Leg.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Ukrainian side are closing in on the Light Blues and Olympiacos in the five-year club coefficient table<\/p>\n
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Surging Shakhtar Donetsk could derail Rangers<\/a> bid to enter the Champions League directly next season through the UEFA back door.<\/p>\n The Glasgow giants are hoping to win the Scottish Premiership title and capitalise on a UEFA loophole to secure automatic entry to next season’s league phase.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Champions League<\/a> winners will automatically qualify for next season\u2019s league phase, but if the newly-crowned Kings of Europe have already earned a place via their domestic position, then the club with the best individual coefficient of all the domestic champions involved in qualifying will enter directly instead of navigating their original round.<\/p>\n The Light Blues slipped into second in the five-year club coefficient table after Olympiacos leapfrogged the Glasgow giants after progressing to the Champions League knockout phase this term.<\/p>\n But the Greek giants domestic form has handed<\/a> Rangers an extra incentive in the title race – as both clubs must win their respective titles to stand a chance. Defeat to AEK last weekend leaves Olympiacos five points off the summit and sitting in third spot.<\/p>\n But Shakhtar will have Rangers on alert following their 3-0 Conference League quarter-final win over AZ Alkmaar. The Ukrainian side sit third in the coefficient standings.<\/p>\n Victory over the Dutch side in the first leg move Shakhtar (54.75) within five points of Rangers (59.25), with Arda Turan’s on course for the semi-final.<\/p>\n Shakhtar are set to play a minimum of three more European games this term after the convincing win over Alkmaar with two coefficient points awarded for a win by UEFA.<\/p>\n The Ukrainian side will play the winner of Crystal Palace against Fiorentina, with the Premier League side taking a convincing 3-0 win to Italy next week.<\/p>\n Domestically, the battle for glory in the Ukraine Premier League is set to go to the wire – but Shakhtar are in the driving seat. They sit second in the table, but level on points with leaders LNZ having played a game less.<\/p>\n With just six games remaining, Rangers remain firmly in the hunt for Premiership title glory – sitting in second spot and a point behind league leaders Hearts.<\/p>\n Hearts are in the SPFL Premiership driving seat with Rangers in hot pursuit(Image: Malcolm Mackenzie\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Danny Rohl’s team are the only side that can take advantage of the UEFA loophole as title winners.<\/p>\n If Hearts or Celtic<\/a> win the league then they will enter at the play-off stage of the 2026\/27 UEFA Champions League, meaning they will have to overcome a two-legged tie to secure a \u00a330million ticket to the league phase.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because Scotland have slid down UEFA\u2019s coefficient rankings into 17th \u2013 losing a guaranteed spot in the competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google\u2019s preferred sources. Click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n![\"GLASGOW,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_GettyImages-2261338285.jpg\")
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