Mikael Lustig has joined his former Celtic team-mates in the last 32 of the Europa League after his current side Gent clinched their place on Thursday night.
The Belgian outfit sit top of Group I and are unbeaten with two wins and three draws from their five matches thus far. A win at home to bottom side Oleksandriya on matchday six will seal top spot for Lustig’s men and a seeded ranking in the first knockout round.
That would rule out a return to Celtic Park at this stage – although a reunion could still be on further down the line.
Lustig excels as another former Celtic man stutters
Lustig has been an ever present for the Belgian outfit in this year’s Europa League. Since he joined they’ve navigated three qualifying rounds and gone five games unbeaten in the groups – a terrific run of form for a team from a smaller footballing nation.
His outfit are the kind of side that many Celtic fans would relish meeting in the last 32 when the draw is made in mid-December. We know that being seeded is likely to keep us away from any of the tournament’s top teams, like Sevilla and Arsenal, and a mid-ranked European side would be ideal opposition for us.
Talking of the Gunners, the Europa League fortunes aren’t quite as good for Kieran Tierney. The former Celtic favourite’s new side may still be top of their section going into matchday six, but a surprise 2-1 reversal at home to Frankfurt last night means there’s an uneasy feeling around the club.
Manager Unai Emery was relieved of his duties shortly after that defeat and it remains to be seen who the London club will bring in to replace him.
Whisper it quietly, but dropped points in their final group outing away to Standard Liege could make them potential opponents for us in the last 32.
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