Celtic have learned who they will face in the Europa League play-off round after qualifying for the knockout phase.
The Hoops beat Utrecht 4-2 to guarantee a 21st place finish, which was just enough to see them advance through to the next round.
That meant they would come up against one of the sides who finished 13th or 14th in the league phase.
Stuttgart or Ferencvaros were the two that ended up in those positions, and now the Europa League draw has been completed, we know who Martin O’Neill’s men will go up against.
Celtic fans would you rather: Win the Europa League but miss out on the league title?
Or… get knocked out of the Europa League and win the title?
Celtic to play Stuttgart in Europa League play-off
It has now been confirmed that Celtic will play Stuttgart in the next round of the competition.
As the Hoops finished lower in the table, they will host the first leg at Celtic Park on Thursday 19 February before travelling to Germany for the second leg a week later on Thursday 26 February.
One thing to be aware of is that the second leg does take place three days before the upcoming Glasgow derby against Rangers on Sunday 1 March.
For everyone’s benefit, there will be hope that the Bhoys can get the job done in the first leg so that they can avoid suffering back-to-back defeats against the Ibrox club.
Celtic fans, your one-word reaction to the Europa League draw…
Was that the tie you wanted? Let us know
Who will Celtic play if they beat
Not that we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but we already know the two sides that Celtic could face if they come through the play-offs unscathed.
Awaiting them will be one of Porto or FC Braga in the last 16.
Porto will bring back familiar memories for O’Neill as they were the side Celtic lost to in the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
Braga meanwhile are someone that the Hoops have faced in this season’s competition already. That night saw Celtic fall to defeat in front of their own fans.
Those games would be played across the weeks of 11/12 March and 18/19 March.
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