Celtic’s next game is the start of their Europa League journey this season.
Disappointingly for supporters, the Hoops will compete in UEFA’s second tier competition having failed to beat Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off round.
Celtic will play the likes of AS Roma and Feyenoord over the next few months, and should be targeting a top eight finish in the table that would see them qualify directly for the last 16.
Juggling European and domestic fixtures will stress test the Celtic squad, which fans think is lacking the depth and quality of previous campaigns.
So 67 Hail Hail had a look at the eight domestic games Celtic will face straight after each Europa League encounter and how challenging they will be.
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Celtic’s Europa League league phase games in full
But first, let’s recap who Celtic will face in the Europa League and when. The first matchday is this Wednesday and the last is scheduled for January 29. All times are UK:
- September 24: Crvena Zvezda (A) (8pm)
- October 2: Braga (H) (5.45pm)
- October 23: Sturm Graz (H) (8pm)
- November 6: FC Midtjylland (A) (5.45pm)
- November 27: Feyenoord (A) (5.45pm)
- December 11: Roma (H) (8pm)
- January 22: Bologna (A) (5.45pm)
- January 29: Utrecht (H) (8pm)
The first challenge against Red Star Belgrade won’t be easy, largely because of their tremendous start to the league season and their extremely hostile stadium.
Braga and Sturm Graz at home back-to-back are winnable fixtures, as is the FC Midtjylland encounter in Denmark.
Arguably the two most difficult ties for the Bhoys come one after the other in Roma and Feyenoord. The campaign then finishes with a trip to Bologna and a home match versus Utrecht.
So who do Celtic play in domestic action straight after each of these games?
Celtic face four difficult Hearts and Hibs tests
Here are each of the Scottish Premiership fixtures:
- September 27: Hibs (H)
- October 5: Motherwell (H)
- October 26: Hearts (A)
- November 9: Kilmarnock (H)
- November 30: Hibs (A)
- December 14: Falkirk (A)
- January 25: Hearts (A)
- February 1: Falkirk (H)
Celtic will play Hibs, Hearts and Falkirk each twice after Europa League games, with fixtures also against Motherwell and Kilmarnock.
Probably the most difficult sequence of games will be Feyenoord away on November 27 followed by Hibs at Easter Road, and then consecutive away trips to Bologna and Hearts in January.
Hearts and Hibs have both started the Premiership season strongly, with both teams second and third respectively.
The Jambos are level on points with Celtic at the moment, but the Hoops enjoy a superior goal difference that places them top of the table.
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