The European play-off draw gave Celtic, Brighton and Rangers clear routes on paper, but the headline detail is still the same for several clubs, the next round has to be survived first. Celtic will host the first leg of their tie against Lask Linz on August 18 or 19, with the return fixture on August 25 or 26. Brighton will play CFR Cluj or Tromso in the Conference League play-off round, with the tie scheduled for August 20 and 27 and the second leg at home.
Celtic and Brighton have known routes
The draw matters most because it split certainty from possibility. Celtic's route is set against Lask Linz, while Brighton's path points to CFR Cluj or Tromso. Celtic arrive with some domestic momentum too, finishing first in the 2025 Premiership Championship Round with 82 points and a +32 goal difference. They also won their last five league matches.
Brighton's place in the Conference League frame is less glamorous, but it is logical enough after they finished eighth in the 2025 Premier League with 53 points and a +6 goal difference. That does not make the tie easier. It just explains why their European route sits where it does.
Rangers still have another step first
Rangers know less than Celtic and Brighton because their route is conditional. They must first beat Jagiellonia Bialystok before facing Larne or Iberia 1999 in the Europa League play-offs. The same kind of caution applies to Hearts, whose play-off opponent was only revealed if they win their third-round qualifying tie.
Rangers finished third in the 2025 Premiership Championship Round with 72 points and a +33 goal difference. That is a decent domestic platform, but it is still behind Celtic's level over the league season and it leaves them with work to do before the play-off picture becomes real.
The draw has given Scotland's clubs their European map, but the calendar now decides which branches survive. Celtic's first leg comes on August 18 or 19, Brighton's tie is set for August 20 and 27, and Rangers cannot even reach the next opponent until Jagiellonia Bialystok are out of the way.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
