Celtic’s possible route to European football this season has now been laid out as the new campaign creeps around the corner, beginning in July.
Thanks to the Twitter account – @Scotlandscoeff1, Celtic’s possible route to potentially three different European competitions has been provided.
@CelticFC now know who their potential opponents will be in each #UCL qualification round.
Starting in Q2 as seeded, Celtic will face either Galatasaray (??), Rapid Vienna (??) or Midtjylland (??) pic.twitter.com/TitPl8FUxf
— Scotland’s Coefficient (@scotlandscoeff1) May 30, 2021
The Hoops will start in the 2nd round of Champions League qualifying, where they could face off against one of Galatasaray, Rapid Vienna or Midtjylland.
If we were to win the first qualifying tie, the four teams (assuming that seeded sides qualify) that could be awaiting us would be Genk, PSV, Spartak Moscow or Sparta Prague.
Once more, if we win the 3rd qualifying round and make it to the Champions League play-off round, it is likely we could face either Shaktar or Benfica.
If we win the 2nd round of qualifying of CL, then we would at least have the guarantee of Europa League football next season because losing in the 3rd round would automatically drop us into that competition.
However, for example, if we lose our first qualifier of the season, the club would drop into the 3rd round of Europa League qualifying – facing either Famagusta or Jablonec.
Win that tie, and we go into the Europa League play-off round to potentially face AZ Alkmaar, Fenerbache, Luhansk, Antwerp, Sturm Graz or Rander. Losing in the play-off round of this would drop us into the brand new Conference League groups.
In the worst-case scenario that sees the Hoops lose in the 3rd round of qualifying in the Europa League, we would drop into the conference league play-off round.
There is a whole list of sides that the Bhoys could face, from Molde, Union Berlin, old foes Rosenborg or Dundalk, to name a few. But that bigger list would be split into smaller groups closer to the time.
It seems that bar any sort of absolute disaster, Celtic will be playing European football next season. What competition that obviously remains to be seen.
