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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gabriel McKay

The required Champions League margin for Rangers as they stand on the brink of big time return

Rangers need just a point against Dundee United on Sunday to guarantee their return to the Champions League.

An unbeaten season has Steven Gerrard's side just four wins from the title, which could be officially sealed at Celtic Park next month.

That will obviously be the big party but another huge milestone is within touching distance.

If Rangers pick up at least a point at Ibrox on Sunday they will officially seal their place in next season's Champions League.

That would put them on 80 points while third-placed Hibs can only reach a total of 79 even if they win every game between now and the end of the season.

With two teams in the Champions League this season one more point will mean a second qualifying round berth at the very least.

Rangers have not been in Europe's top competition since the 2011-12 season when Ally McCoist's side were knocked out by Malmo.

But one more point will end that decade of hurt after a remarkable turnaround in fortunes under Gerrard.

And Rangers could yet earn an automatic group stage place for next season's champions with their Europa League exploits.

Scotland currently sits 11th in the coefficient table, which would almost certainly mean a group stage place as the Champions League winners, for whom a slot is reserved, almost always qualify via their domestic league.

If Rangers can hold on to 11th then the 2021-22 Premiership winners will go straight into the groups.

However, there is a strong challenge from Ukraine with both Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev still in the Europa League.

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