Rangers have overtaken Celtic to become Scotland's top performing side in Europe for the first time in nine years.
Steven Gerrard 's team have soared to 42nd place in UEFA's five-year club ranking system on the back of their recent Europa League adventures.
Their Old Firm rivals, however, have slumped to 50th place after last year's disastrous campaign.
Rangers last sat above Celtic back in season 2011/12.
When Ibrox boss Gerrard took over in 2018, he inherited a squad which had been humiliated by Progres Niederkorn 12 months earlier.
But the former Liverpool idol has rebuilt Gers into an outfit that has now qualified for the group stage three years on the bounce, with both of the last two European adventures ending at the last 16 stage.
Rangers missed out on reaching the Champions League for the first time since 2011 with last week's shock defeat to Malmo but they can now claim a fourth successive year in the Europa League groups if they can see off play-off round opponents Alashkert in next week's Yerevan return clash.
Celtic were ranked 46th at the start of last season but have tumbled backwards after that nightmare campaign, which saw the Neil Lennon's team dumped out of the Champions League by Ferencvaros before finishing bottom of their Europa League group.
However, while Rangers now sit above their bitter rivals in the five-year ranking system, the Hoops still lead the way when it comes to UEFA's crucial 10-year category - which is used to divvy up prizemoney payments. Celtic are currently placed 42nd in the list assessing form over the past decade, with Rangers way back in 114th spot.
