Aberdeen are on course to again be seeded when the draw for next season’s Europa League first qualifying round is made next month.
The Dons, who have finished second in the Scottish Premiership, are in a strong position to be among the seeded teams for the draw in Nyon, Switzerland due to their Uefa coefficient ranking.
Derek McInnes’ side was seeded for the first qualifying round draw last year, and beat Latvian club Daugava Riga 8-0 on aggregate. They were unseeded for the second qualifying round against Groningen but still managed to beat the Dutch team 2-1 before exiting at the third qualifying round stage to Spanish La Liga side Real Sociedad.
Caley Thistle, who are currently third in the Scottish Premiership, can progress to the second qualifying round if they beat Falkirk in the Scottish Cup final on May 30. Should Inverness win the cup the team which finishes fourth in the league, currently Dundee United, will also qualify for Europe, joining the Dons in the draw for the first qualifying round.
The draw for the first two qualifying rounds will be made on June 22.