Europa League scheduling and how it will affect domestic fixtures
Now that we find ourselves in the Europa League, European football’s second tier competition for the second consecutive season, not only is it a major dent to our aspirations of competing at the top level in European football, and all the financial rewards that come with it, but our fixture schedule will also be affected due to the Thursday night slot allocated for Europa League football…
Our fate in the draw is still to be determined tomorrow afternoon, but the schedule for the ties have already been confirmed, and here we take a look at how it will affected our domestic fixtures in the coming months.
Our first clash will take place on the either the 16-17th September, which just so happens to be in the middle of two massive Glasgow derby clashes, and with the Rangers looking likely to be in the conference group stage, which doesn’t kick off until mid October, then they will have the advantage of having a free week in between whilst we kick off our Europa League campaign.
Whether we are at home or away in the Europa League has yet to be determined, so we could possibly be travelling between the two Derby clashes.
Our next fixture will commence on the 15th October, meaning our Celtic Park clash with Hearts that was scheduled for the 17th October will definitely be put back to the following day. Although with the Tynecastle side also in the conference group stage, which starts that midweek, the fixture would have been changed regardless.
The following week, 22nd October sees the third Europa League fixture being played, and again it will push back our away clash at Easter Road which was set to be played on 24th October.
But much like their Edinburgh rivals, Hibs could well be in the conference group stages, and they have a good chance of doing so as they take on Gent at Easter Road tonight, and lead 2-0 on aggregate, so if they prevail, much like the Hearts game, the Easter Road clash would have been moved regardless.
We face two fixtures in the month of November, on 5th and 26th to be exact. The first fixture will mean our home clash with Kilmarnock will be put back 24 hours, whilst the second fixture at the end of the month will mean our tough trip to Tynecastle on 26th will also be put back, although with the Gorgie side also in Conference League action, it would have been subject to change no matter what.
A fortnight later on 10th December sees match-day six commence, shelving a home fixture with Hibs on 12th, but again if the Easter Road side make the conference group stages, that clash would also have been subject to change.
The final two fixtures take place on t21st and 28th of January 2027, meaning that a trip to St Mirren will be put back, as will a home clash with Falkirk a week later.
Depending on how we perform, we could face a play off in February, which would affect an away trip to Easter Road and a Glasgow derby home clash with the Rangers.
If we replicate last year, and make the last 16 which takes place on 11th and 18th of March, it would then affect an away fixture at St Johnstone, and a home clash against Aberdeen.
So we could be feeling the impact of the Champions League exit in Linz despite having a 4-0 aggregate lead in the tie, all the way through to the spring of 2027.
