The European soccer governing body had previously announced on Feb. 28 an indefinite suspension of Russia and its clubs from all UEFA competitions, due to the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine which has been widely condemned across the globe. The move to suspend clubs from next season’s European competitions was expected, but had previously not been made official.

Logistically, the suspension creates openings across the competitions, and UEFA has announced the reshuffling of qualifying positions to account for the gaps in each competition. Most notably, Scotland’s league champion has been given an automatic group stage place in the Champions League, and Ukraine’s league champion is also a likely benefactor of the reshuffling.

Sporting News gives you a full breakdown of all the changes made to the 2022-23 Champions League places, as well as those in the other European competitions.

UEFA’s infographic illustrates the shift in all European places for next year’s tournaments following Russia’s ban from competition.

How Russia ban guarantees Celtic or Rangers group stage berth

Russian clubs were slated for two places in the 2022-23 Champions League, with one entering in the group stage and another entering in the third qualifying round.

With those two places now open, a full-scale reshuffling took place. Summed up simply: The group stage spot went to the next-highest ranked nation by UEFA coefficient which didn’t already have a group stage spot (Scotland). Other nations moved up a spot to fill in the gaps created.

Previously, Scotland’s domestic league champion settled for a qualifying round playoff. Now the league champion will earn a direct place in the group stage. With Rangers or Celtic in a battle for the league title with a handful of matches remaining, one of them will claim that lucrative group stage spot.

Nations were moved up to fill the subsequent gaps.

Turkey’s champion got bumped up to the playoff round from the third qualifying round Cyprus’s champion is bumped from the second to the third qualifying round, along with the runners-up in Austria and Scotland. And Croatia and Switzerland’s champions are both moved up from the first to the second qualifying round.

See all the moves outlined in UEFA’s official table.

Celtic, Rangers in Champions League group stage

Both Celtic and Rangers have a rich history of Champions League play, but over the 30 years since the competition was revamped (1992-93), one or both teams have reached the group stage in 18 editions.

When it comes to reaching the knockout rounds, the instances of either team advancing to the Round of 16 have been minimal. The two clubs have only reached the knockout stage a combined four times, and neither has won a knockout matchup to advance past the Round of 16.

Celtic came close in 2006-07, drawing 0-0 with AC Milan in the Round of 16 first leg before an extra-time 1-0 loss downed the Scottish side in the second leg.

Rangers also came close in its one chance in the 2005-06 Round of 16, but lost to Villarreal in penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

Celtic in Champions League group stage

Rangers in Champions League group stage

  • = 3rd place finishers moved to the UEFA Cup/Europa League knockout round ** = In the first season of the revamped Champions League, only the top finisher in each group advanced

How Celtic, Rangers can qualify for Champions League 2022-23

With the top two sides in the Scottish league table flying away from the rest of the pack, both Celtic and Rangers have mathematically qualified for the Champions League.

Now, with three matches remaining in the domestic season it comes down to where they finish to determine at which point they enter the continental competition. The Scottish Premiership champion will head directly into the Champions League group stage, while the second-place finisher enters in the third qualifying round.

However, there’s one wrinkle. Both teams could qualify for the Champions League group stage if Celtic win the league title and Rangers win the Europa League. Rangers are still alive in the Europa League semifinals, trailing RB Leipzig 1-0 after the first leg.

Scottish Premiership Championship table

Updated as of Monday, May 2

  • League champion earns group stage berth in 2022-23 UEFA Champions League * Second-place finisher earns third qualifying round berth in 2022-23 UEFA Champions League

How Ukraine champion Shakhtar could benefit from Russia ban

Traditionally, a group stage spot is guaranteed for the defending UEFA Champions League title winner. However, if the eventual champion also qualifies for next year’s competition via its league table finish, the extra group stage vacancy created will go to the next-highest ranking nation without an automatic group-stage berth.

Since Scotland has already moved up to fill in Russia’s place in the group stage, the next nation in line for a group-stage berth in the above scenario is Ukraine, whose league champions Shakhtar Donetsk are currently slated for a qualifying playoff slot. (The Ukrainian league was suspended, but the league table prior to the suspension will determine the European spots.)

So Shakhtar will be rooting for one of three 2021-22 semifinalists to win the Champions League title — Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool — since all three have already qualified for the 2022-23 group stage via their league finish. If Villarreal (7th place in Spain’s La Liga) wins the Champions League, then Shakhtar will retain its place in the qualifying playoff stage.