The prospect of either Celtic or Rangers going all the way to Istanbul next June and lifting the Champions League trophy is a long, long shot. But in the eyes of major bookmaker William Hill the Scottish Premiership champions are a longer shot than their rivals across the city.
And, bizarrely, that’s despite Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops side going straight into the group stage of UEFA’s premier competition courtesy of last season’s title win. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side still have to overcome PSV Eindhoven over two legs in their playoff tie just to ensure they are even in the group stage draw on August 26.
That alone should surely mean Celtic have a greater chance of success in a competition they were the first British side to win in 1967. However, it is more recent form in Europe that appears to be behind this. Rangers went all the way to the Europa League Final last season, taking some huge scalps along the way such as German giants Borussia Dortmund before losing the final in Seville to Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Light Blues were then staring at an early qualifying exit in the Champions League this season after losing the first leg of their tie against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 in Leuven but they overturned that deficit with a storming 3-0 win at Ibrox to set up a showdown with Dutch cracks PSV, who won the trophy in 1988.
And after their success against the Belgians the Ibrox side were cut to 250/1 to win the Champions League with William Hill. It’s still huge odds and extremely unlikely but Celtic are a staggering 500/1 with the same company and as big as 1000/1 with others who don’t yet offer a price on Rangers as they have yet to reach the group stage.
Asked for the reason behind it, a William Hill spokesman told Record Sport : “It’s based on two things. One, it’s where the money has gone and, two, because of Rangers’ recent success in Europe,” who predicted Rangers could be cut as short as 66/1 thanks to their form on the continent.
Celtic’s form in Europe could also be a factor with the Hoops having won just one knockout tie leg out 18 played in the last 18 years since they eliminated Barcelona after a 1-0 victory at Parkhead in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup and were eliminated from three different European competitions last season. Rangers have won 11 during that same period despite a six-year absence.
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