Key points
- The key fixture dates for Celtic's Champions League play-off draw View post
- Celtic fans react to Champions League draw View post
- Key details of Celtic's Champions League draw View post
- Celtic draw Kairat Almaty <strong>or</strong> ŠK Slovan Bratislava View post
- The procedure for Celtic's Champions League draw [Champions Path] View post
- Who Celtic could draw in the Champions League play-off View post
Celtic have drawn either Slovan Bratislava or Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off draw.
Brendan Rodgers now knows who stands between Celtic and reaching the lucrative Champions League group stage this season.
Kairat are the lowest ranked non-seeded team in the draw and the Celtic boss will be happy to have avoided the likes of Dynamo Kiev or FC Basel.
Celtic destroyed Slovan Bratislava in last season’s competition and fans will be confident of taking care of them again.
Wins against RB Leipzig at Celtic Park and a draw against the then Europa League holders Atalanta last season helped Celtic progress out of the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2013.
Now needing to qualify, Celtic now know who stands between them and a place in the lucrative group stages of UEFA’s elite competition.
The first-leg fixture will be played on the 19/20 August at Celtic Park with the second leg on the 26/27 of the same month. Kick-off times are yet to be announced.
Thank you for sticking with us
And with that, we will end the live blog. Thanks for sticking with us and keep an eye open for future updates after Almaty face Bratislava on Wednesday afternoon at 4pm.
[Link]The key fixture dates for Celtic’s Champions League play-off draw
Here is everything Celtic fans need to know about the Champions League play-off draw.
Key details of Celtic’s Champions League draw
After being drawn out of the hat first, Celtic will play at home on either the 19/20 August.
The second leg will be held at the Štadión Tehelné pole in Bratislava or the Central Stadium in Kazakhstan on the 26/27 August.
Celtic draw Kairat Almaty <strong>or</strong> ŠK Slovan Bratislava
A good draw for Celtic after being drawn against the lowest ranked UEFA team in Kairat Alamaty and Slovan Bratislava who the Hoops beat in last season’s Champions League.
[Link]Where Celtic fans can watch the Champions League play-off draw
UEFA are streaming the draw LIVE on YouTube:
Not long to go…
With less than 30 minutes to go till the big draw, excitement will be building for the Celtic supporters.
[Link]Celtic Champions League throwback vs RB Leipzig
Celtic bounced back from a disappointing result at Borussia Dortmund by destroying their fellow Bundesliga club RB Leipzig last season.
Enjoy!
Brendan Rodgers makes Celtic Champions League vow
The Celtic manager can’t wait for the draw and makes a promise to fans:
[Link]“We’ll be ready for the games. Whenever they come, we’ll be ready. The players are working very hard.
“They are always tense games. But we’re in a good place and we’ll take that game on when it comes.
“We’ve had a really, really good pre-season. The players are shaping up very well and are working very hard. There’s real spirit and solidarity here in the team. So we look forward to that.
“We know whoever we get, it’s going to be tough, but it will also be tough for them.”
Irish News
When Celtic will play their Champions League play-off fixture
After the draw is made, the fixtures will be played out on the 19th/20th and 26th/27th of August.
[Link]The procedure for Celtic’s Champions League draw [Champions Path]
The draw can seem like a fairly complicated procedure but here is how UEFA plan to do it.
[Link]Three bowls are prepared for the draw, with the balls containing the names of the seeded and unseeded teams and/or pairings placed in the corresponding marked bowls.
One ball is then taken from each of these bowls and placed in the third empty central bowl, where they are shuffled. One ball is taken from the central bowl and is opened to display the team. This team is considered the home team for the first leg of the first tie, which they will play against the second team drawn from this bowl.
The process is then repeated with the remaining balls to complete all the ties.
UEFA.com
Where UEFA rank Celtic’s possible opponents
Celtic are currently ranked 56th in UEFA’s ranking, so where do our possible Champions League opponents rank?
Here they are in descending order:
– Kairat (301)
– Shkendija (238)
– Pafos (133
– Dynamo Kiev (113)
– Sturm Graz (74)
– Qarabag (65)
– FC Basel (63)
– Slovan Bratislava (62)
[Link]Who Celtic could draw in the Champions League play-off
Celtic can face one of eight possible teams in the draw this morning:
FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ) or ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
FC Basel (SUI)
KF Shkëndija (MKD) or Qarabağ FK (AZE)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) or Pafos FC (CYP)
SK Sturm Graz (AUT)
Some tricky opponents in there however some familiar faces with Qarabag, FC Basel and Slovan Bratislava in the mix.
[Link]Celtic are in the Champions path, who Brendan Rodgers will avoid
As champions of Scotland, Celtic are seeded and will avoid the following teams:
Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
Malmö FF (SWE) or F.C. Copenhagen (DEN)
KKS Lech Poznań (POL) or FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) or Ferencváros TC (HUN)
Celtic have, of course, faced Malmo, FC Copenhagen, Bodo/Glimt and Ferencvaros and will be pleased that these teams will be avoided.
[Link]Welcome
Celtic’s Champions League play-off draw will take place at 11am this morning.
Brendan Rodgers knows that Celtic will be in the Champions path which means he will avoid potential tricky trips to the likes of Bodo/Glimt.
The benefit of the Champions path means Celtic will have their second leg at home with 60,000 supporters right behind them.
[Link]Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
