Celtic face uphill challenge in Champions League qualifier
Club just misses out on the seedings for the third round
It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for Celtic and the way the seedings have went for next years Champions League qualifying campaign has followed on with the club’s run of bad luck. It looked as though the SPL runners-up were going to be in the seeded pot for the Champions League third round qualifiers but events in Turkey ensured this didn’t happen.
Fenerbache’s failure to win the Turkish title sees them above Celtic with regards to seedings which means a tough test lies ahead of Celtic. There has been no announcement over who will be in charge of Celtic next season but the new manager will need to have his team playing well from the start if they are to have any chance of progressing to the group stages of the Champions League.
Ironically enough, the teams who would stand in Celtic’s way in the play-off round if they get there are not as formidable (on paper at least) as the opposition from last year but the third round seeds will pose a particularly strong challenge.
The list of seeded teams for this round is:
Zenit St Petersburg, Ajax, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kyiv, and Braga
Celtic are in the un-seeded pot alongside Unirea, PAOK, Young Boys of Berne and Gent.
So…a tough task ahead for whoever is in charge of the East End of Glasgow club and it may be a step too far for the new man. That said, the club knows they will immediately have a tough test and should be planning accordingly.
This round lies either side of Celtic’s visit to London to take part in the Emirates tournament so you can guarantee that Celtic will be utilising the full extent of their squad on their return trip to Arsenal.
Celtic fans, hopeful of making the play-off round of the Champions League?
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Fuck the CL the Europa Cup final is in DUBLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If we are to be honest with ourselves we should not even be thinking about Europe. We must, must, must win the SPL next season. That and only that should be our focus.
If the results do not go our way in Europe, be it the CL or EL, it should not be used to slaughter our new manager…again winning the SPL is all that really matters.
That said, from the list of seeded teams you mention only Fenerbache would worry me and that is primarily because of their fans reputation. The prospect of The Bhoys lifting the cup in Dublin sends shivers racing up and down my spine.
Hail Hail
DublinBhoy
If Celtic lose in their first match, does that mean they will drop into the Europa league, or is that it for Europe?
They drop into the Play-off round for the Europa League (the one Dundee United enter at)
If Celtic win their opening round in the Champions League qualifiers and then lose – they will parachute directly into the Europa League.
So even if Celtic lose their opening round, they have a chance of Europa League.