Borussia Dortmund on course to close the Rangers Champions League loophole

Borussia Dortmund are on course to scupper the loophole that would send Rangers into the Champions League group stage in 2025/26 despite the freefalling coefficient.

The Premiership winners already know they won't automatically qualify for the group stage from the 2025/26 campaign after Scotland dropped out of the UEFA coefficient rankings top 10 with the Czech Republic moving up the rankings and our nation now lying 11th. But Rangers could still get in through the backdoor should they win the league next season and Scotland.

Their individual club coefficient ranking means they would secure a spot thanks to the new Champions League format that comes into effect next season thanks to being the highest ranked champion in qualifying. However, that all hinges on the 2024 Champions League winners already qualifying for the following season's competition through their league position.

That would mean that their entry becomes spare and goes to the top ranked champions in the qualifiers. This would be Rangers as it stands. While results from next season are counted, Philippe Clement's side hold a 10 point lead over the next closest side – Dinamo Zagreb – which puts them in pole position.

But Dortmund could scupper the plan with the German side pushing for a shock Champions League win despite a disappointing Bundesliga campaign. Edin Terzic led his side to a thrilling 5-4 aggregate quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid to set up semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite being within touching distance of Wembley and lifting the famous trophy, domestically they are sitting outside of the Champions League spots in fifth spot. They are in a close fight for a top four spot with RB Leipzig - with Dortmund sitting behind their rivals on goal difference.

The tussle is set to go to the wire with just five games remaining of the German top flight campaign - with Dortmund and Leipzig facing off later this month. But should the Champions League trophy be brought to the Westfalenstadion and they fail to make the top four in the Bundesliga, Rangers route to the 2025/26 group stage would be closed.