What does Premiership climax mean for European places?

Celtic and Hearts were already assured of Champions League qualifying places before the final Premiership match. Celtic’s 3-1 comeback victory overturned Hearts’ long lead and delivered Celtic a fifth consecutive title. Celtic will enter the Champions League play-off round, while Hearts will begin in the second qualifying round in July. If Celtic lose in the play-off, they move into the Europa League group stage proper. If Hearts reach the third qualifying round and then lose, they qualify directly for the Europa League league phase. If Hearts lose in their opening qualifier, they drop to the Europa League third qualifying round, and further defeats can move them into the Conference League. Celtic are seeded in the Champions path play-off round, with Viking confirmed among unseeded opponents and other teams awaiting outcomes from earlier rounds.

"Celtic and Heart of Midlothian were already guaranteed places in next season's Champions League qualifiers before Saturday's dramatic and chaotic head-to-head finale to the Scottish Premiership season. But the hosts' comeback to win 3-1 and overtake the long-time leaders for a fifth successive title means it is Celtic who will enter Europe as champions and Hearts as runners-up. So what does it mean in terms of their respective paths to potential Champions League riches - and for Scotland's other European representatives after Motherwell pipped Hibernian for fourth place?"

"Eleven astonishing final minutes at Celtic Park not only denied Hearts a first Scottish league title in 66 years but also a one-game route into the Champions League for the first time. Instead, it is Celtic who will enter the play-off - the final round of qualifying - while Hearts enter the second of four qualifying rounds in July. Lose in the play-off and Celtic would drop into the Europa League proper. Meanwhile, should Hearts reach the third qualifying round and then lose, Derek McInnes' side will also earn direct qualification into the Europa's league phase."

"However, lose in their opening qualifier and Hearts will drop into the third round of qualifying in the Europa League - two ties away from the league phase. Defeat in either round would involve a drop down to the Conference League. Lose in the third round of qualifying would mean Hearts would have to play a qualifier to reach the league stage, but a defeat in the Europa League play-off would be compensated by a direct place in the Conference League. Celtic will be seeded in the Champions path section of the play-off round."

"So far, Norwegian champions Viking are the only confirmed side among five potential unseeded opponents. Greek champions AEK Athens, who have former Hearts left-back James Penrice in their squad, and the winners of the Austrian Bundesliga must await six winners from the third qualifying round to find out i"

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