Brendan Rodgers’ men will need to tackle the nervy qualifying route in order to join Europe’s top dogs once again
It’s a path that Celtic haven’t had to navigate in recent years.
But the nervy early Champions League qualifiers are back for the Hoops this summer in their quest to mix it with Europe’s top boys.
Brendan Rodgers’ men put in a top performance in the newly revamped competition this season and secured a top 24-spot and with that booked a knockout play-off spot against Bayern Munich.
They earned rave reviews for their performance over the tie, particularly at the Allianz Arena, with a last-gasp goal denying the Scottish champions a famous away day win to force the two-legged affair into extra-time.
Instead Alphonso Davies’ goal put the German giants into the hat and ending Celtic’s journey in heartbreaking fashion.
In order to enjoy memorable nights like that once more, the Hoops must navigate the play-off round safely.
At this stage of the competition they will compete in the Champions Path which will consist of five seeded teams and five unseeded – and the Hoops are on course to be seeded which is a major boost.
But that could change and Celtic will be hoping some things go their way. For starters Bodo/Glimt have been this season’s shock troops in the Europa League and with the Norwegian champions seeded for the qualifiers next year, Rodgers and Co will be supporting them to go all the way and lift UEFA’s second tier title – even if that means putting a major dent on Ange Postecoglou as they ace Tottenham in the semi-finals.
Winning the competition bags an automatic Champions League place and means the Norwegians would bump up from the final stage of qualifying into the tournament proper – and free up guaranteed seeded space, which would be a welcomed boost to Celtic.
Red Star have romped to the Serbian league crown while Olympiacos could be set to benefit from the Champions League winner rebalancing.
This is because as Greek Super League winners, as it stands, would take the league phase winners’ prize because they have the highest coefficient of all clubs currently top of their domestic leagues from associations 11-55.
Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona and Inter Milan are the semi-finalists this term with all four either already qualified or well on course to do it through their league standing.
So what do Celtic not want? Well, they don’t want TWO of the following teams to taste domestic glory: FC Copenhagen, Shaktar Donetsk, Ferencvaros, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb – should Bodo not win the Europa League.
Currently Ferencvaros hold a three point advantage at the top of the Hungarian league. It is just as tight in Denmark with Copenhagen sitting first with a one point lead over FC Midtjylland.
Shakhtar Donetsk are 10 points behind in Ukraine in third spot while Salzburg trail four points behind in the Austrian League.
Dinamo Zagreb missed a big chance to claw points back in Croatia and trail top two Rijeka and Hadjuk Split by four points. They face a massive game with Rijeka next time out before travelling to Hadjuk in a make or break couple of outings.
One thing for sure for Celtic fans is the date of the Champions League play-off.
UEFA have confirmed that the draw will take place on August 4 with the two-legged tie played on 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025.
Should they advance past this stage the league phase draw would take place on August 28.
The Hoops do have the insurance policy of Europa League group stage football if they are to fall at this final hurdle.
