Celtic’s impressive Champions League campaign has pundits debating just how far Brendan Rodgers’ side can go, with Ewen Cameron suggesting the Hoops have a “great chance” of finishing in the tournament’s top eight.
Meanwhile, Opta predicts nine points will secure a play-off spot for the round of 16, while 16 points will likely be required to achieve a top-eight finish.
Speaking on The Big Scottish Football Podcast, Cameron backed Celtic to win their next two games, starting with Club Brugge at home, which would put them on 10 points:
“Club Brugge have had some mixed results in the Champions League, but I still think Celtic at home [can get the win]. I mean, I’ve called it all season before a ball was kicked.
“They’re going to get out of that group. And I would not rule Celtic out of finishing in the top eight. I think they’ve got it in them to get, I think the next couple of games, I think they get six points and that would put them on 14 with that.
“I think they’ve got a great chance, genuinely got a great chance. And the problem that Celtic have got about finishing into top eight is that result that Aston Villa got in the last round of games when they were expected to win the loss by a goal.”
Opta’s analysis sets the bar higher for a top-eight finish, projecting that 16 points will likely be needed. For Celtic to hit that mark, they must secure three wins from their final four matches, which include fixtures against Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Young Boys, and Aston Villa.
Celtic’s home form will be crucial, with Club Brugge visiting Parkhead next. The Hoops have turned Celtic Park into a fortress, winning their last three Champions League matches there.
Wins in Glasgow and a strong showing away could elevate Celtic from a team hoping for progression to one aiming for elite company in the competition’s top eight.
Rodgers’ men have shown they can rise to the occasion with notable victories against RB Leipzig and Slovan Bratislava this season. With momentum on their side, the next two games will be pivotal in determining whether Cameron’s bold prediction can come true or if Opta’s higher threshold proves too steep.
