UEFA announce changes to Champions League qualifiers

UEFA have announced a number of changes to the Champions League to deal with last season's tournament as well as the upcoming one, which have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With a group place held open for the 2020 winners the draw procedure has to be changed with Lyon and Napoli failing to qualify through their league position. If the 2020 Champions League winners have already earned a group spot the winners of the Dutch League (Ajax on goal difference) will get an automatic group place instead of playing in a play-off. What comes to Celtic, these rules will be largely unaffected for them, but playing a round over one match will be a new experience for them.

1. UEFA have published the regulations for the 20/21 Champions League. It's nearly exactly the same as last year. But there are 3 major differences to account for the changes caused by Covid, and the need for a compressed qualifying.

— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) July 16, 2020

9. The second change is confirmation that the qualifiers will be played in a single match. It also confirms that there will be extra time and penalties - so no mad away goal rule in the one-off match. Note that this refers to just QR1-3, and not the playoff. pic.twitter.com/WHBq2qYQEp

— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) July 16, 2020

 

10. Finally, confirmation of how coefficiant points will be allocated in the one-off ties. This refers to points gained for the national coefficient only. - Win without needing penalties = 1.5pts - Go to a penalty shootout = 1pt - Lose the tie before penalties- 0.5pts pic.twitter.com/NzUPxUcu4i

— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) July 16, 2020

14. For Celtic it doesn't change much. We still have to play 4 rounds, will almost certainly be seeded for all 4, and face the dangers of one-off ties. The only difference might be that rebalancing will remove Dinamo Zagreb from out list of potential playoff opponents. /End

— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) July 16, 2020

source - videocelts

Rangers fixtures in full: First Celtic clash revealed