Celtic and Rangers could be impacted by THREE major Champions League changes as Uefa re-draw rules after just one season
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CELTIC enjoyed a great run in the inaugural year of the new format 36-team Champions League - but they could be affected by THREE massive rule changes if they get back there next season.
When they finally get over the line as this year's Premiership champions, the Hoops will need to negotiate the playoff round to make it back there.
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Brendan Rodgers after the clash with Bayern Munich
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
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The UEFA Champions League Trophy
Credit: Getty
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Rangers crashed out of qualifying to Dynamo Kyiv
Credit: Alamy
Rangers will be able to join them in the new format of the Champions League if they can make it past three qualifying rounds - or perhaps just two if Bilbao go on to win the Europa League AND qualify for the Champions League by league position.
There could also be an extra league phase spot up for grabs for the champion which doesn't automatically qualify with the best five-year coefficient but the likes of FC Copenhagen or Bodo/Glimt seem likely to beat the Hoops to that spot.
But whatever Scottish clubs do or don't make it into the league phase, they could find major changes according to a report from German paper Bild.
They say Uefa are considering bringing in THREE major changes - and they could all come on board for next sesaon.
Uefa's club competitions committee will decide on any adjustments on May 30 in Munich and make a corresponding proposal to Uefa's Executive Committee.
All three changes only relate to the knockout phase, in other words kicking in AFTER the league phase.
The first could see matches at the knockout phase go straight to penalties, rather than extra time.
Had such a rule been in place this year, Celtic would have been only seconds away from reaching a penalty shootout against the mighty Bayern Munich.
The second proposed rule change relates to second leg home advantage.
In order to incentivise teams in the league phase even more, teams that finish in the top eight teams should be rewarded with second legs right through to the semi-finals, rather than just the last 16.
Will Adam Idah still be at Celtic next season after failing to take Kyogo's jersey
And finally, a further rule change could reinstate 'country protection' - ie making it impossible for clubs from the same country to meet each other BEFORE the quarter finals.
In an interesting innovation this season, Uefa opened up the Champions League to meetings from clubs from the same association from the playoff round onwards.
As a result, PSG faced Brest, Bayern Munich took on Leverkusen and Real Madrid took on Atletico - but it appears the bigger clubs are keen to roll back on this innovation.
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