Celtic’s path to the all lucrative and prestigious Champions League group stage is taking shape, with the draw for the play-off scheduled to take place on Monday at 5pm in Nyon, Switzerland…
And being a seeded side, Celtic in theory anyway, stand a good chance of qualifying for the group stages However we all know from painful previous experiences, most recently against Kairat Almaty last summer that nothing can be taken for granted.
List of Celtic’s potential unseeded opponents taking shape
Here’s how things are shaping up at the moment. Celtic is poised to face the likes of Norwegian side Viking Stavanger, Austrian outfit LASK Linz, whilst the likes of Slovenia’s NK Celje or Aarat-Armenia also in with a chance of providing the opposition in the money-spinning play-off.
Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia, who were once coached by Neil Lennon are also a possibility, holding a 1-0 win over our old foes Kairat Almaty, but they meet later today in Kazakhstan for a place in the final play off.
The toughest obstacle Martin O’Neill’s side can face in the two legged shootout is without doubt Greek side AEK Athens who are unseeded, but were so nearly promoted to the same pot as Celtic, only for Dynamo Zagreb to pull off a spirited comeback last night to come from behind to avoid defeat to Swiss side FC Thun.
AEK Athens are probably a side we would want to avoid
AEK Athens are probably a side we would want to avoid, with our defeat to the Greek side back in 2018 still fresh in the mind. That of course was an unhappy summer with Celtic missing out on a midfielder because we would got a few hundred grand more for his signature with the player absolutely desperate at the time to join Celtic.
Baur situation reminds me of John McGinn standoff back in 2018
If that doesn’t sound familiar then have a read at my previous article on Mika Baur. The midfielder in the exact same position back in the summer of 2018 was of course John McGinn.
What you need to know about Champions League
When is the Champions League play-off games due to be played?
The first legs are scheduled for 18 or 19 August with the returns on 25 or 26 August.
When is the League phase draw for the Champions League?
If Martin O’Neill and his players are successful in their play-off ties, they will go into the draw for the eight game League phase on Thursday 27 August.
They would face a further eight games in that competition.
Matchday 1: 8-10 September 2026
Matchday 2: 13-14 October 2026
Matchday 3: 20-21 October 2026
Matchday 4: 3-4 November 2026
Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
Matchday 6: 8-9 December 2026
Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
Europa League Details
In the event that Celtic fall at the play-off hurdle, just like last year then similarly we will drop into the Europa League, League phase where we will face another eight games with the games being played on Thursday nights.
The draw for Europe’s secondary competition takes place on Friday 28 August.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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2 Comments
Sounding like your trying to make a mountain out of a molehill imo?
Using an example from 8 years ago, is nothing more than trying to create a drama, without even looking at the current reality?
The obvious question currently is whether we would be prepared to sell Engels, before this CL qualification game comes around?
Personally don’t believe MoN has any intentions of doing so, especially with being by far, the best partner for Calmac in the centre of the park, and how MoN is looking at setting up our team imo?
Could make a stronger case, if an acceptable offer was received for Hatate or Paulo, but we haven’t heard of any, and don’t even know if MoN wants to even change our midfield options just yet, with that CL qualification games in mind?
For Baur, along with any player maybe looking at joining ourselves? It’s the prospect of a European campaign, especially at CL level, which is the biggest attraction to themselves.
So a squad place would have to be a guarantee for them?
Can we offer such a guarantee at present, with 7 midfielders, along with potentially Mcardle making 8, as a B listed player?
The space isn’t even available within our squad for Baur as things stand at present imo?
Personally believe that Paulo will eventually be loaned out for next season, as doubtful we will receive anything close to what we paid for him?
And don’t see a place available for him, within a 25man European for a league phase either imo?
But we aren’t going to let him go just yet, in case an unexpected injury should occur?
So has Baur, that instant quality factor, that makes him a better option than either Engels or Hatate at present?
That’s potentially what MoN has to consider, especially with the CL qualification game in mind?
Still think that there will be a few changes made to the squad, from the one that’s in place for the CL qualification game, and the finalised 25man European squad for the league phase all the same imo?
It might not suit ourselves as supporters, but maybe a bit more consideration given to the decision making MoN is facing, wouldn’t go a miss either imo?
Ffs Mark go pretend to support another team! Your so called journalism is pathetic . You must wake up every morning going ‘ oh I made it through’ followed by a loud sigh!