Only Celtic switch up for Rangers Champions League congestion...

The fact that both of the major two were assigned home matches against Falkirk and Alloa significantly reduces the

number of possible matchups

Rangers and Celtic both had home draws, which has caused the SPFL to struggle with fixtures.

Together with the other Premiership European qualifiers, both joined the League Cup at the second round stage.

However, the domestic schedule may be thrown up if both of the major two play in Glasgow on the same weekend

due to their Champions League qualifying matches.

Holders Celtic are at home to top flight new boys Falkirk while Russell Martin’s side host Alloa Athletic at Ibrox on

the weekend of August 16/17.

Gers take a 2-0 Champions League second round qualifying first leg lead to Athens this week, looking to finish the

job against Panathinaikos.

If they do, they will play in the third qualifying round against either Viktoria Plzen or Servette.

Although they will be 180 minutes away from the lucrative league phase, it is not impossible that they will secure a

berth in the playoff round with their city rivals.

The Premier Sports Cup matches will take place the weekend before the opening legs of those ties, which are

scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, and Wednesday, August 20.

Although it’s still a long way off, it won’t be known if Rangers will be selected before the domestic cup matches are

broadcast on television.

Since at least one of them is scheduled to play on Tuesday, that eliminates out Sunday. If Police Scotland decides

against using staggered kickoffs on Saturday, August 16, then the most logical option at this point appears to be

Celtic hosting the Bairns on Friday, August 15.

However, there is precedent for both to begin simultaneously on their own patches.

July 2022 saw the Light Blues host Tottenham Hotspur in the friendly while Norwich City were across town at Celtic

Park.

Both games kicked off at 3pm on the same day in the same city – which was the first time that had happened since

January 1999.

Just under 38,000 watched Rangers beat Stenhousemuir 2-0 in the Scottish Cup while over 42,000 were at

Parkhead to see the Hoops see off Airdrie 3-1.

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