Celtic’s path to the all profitable and prestigious Champions League group stage is taking form, with the draw for the play-off scheduled to happen on Monday at 5pm in Nyon, Switzerland…
Temirlan Anarbekov of Kairat clutches the ba through the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Spherical First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photograph by Ian MacNicol/Getty Pictures)
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And being a seeded aspect, Celtic in idea anyway, stand a superb likelihood of qualifying for the group phases Nevertheless everyone knows from painful earlier experiences, most not too long ago in opposition to Kairat Almaty final summer season that nothing might be taken as a right.
Record of Celtic’s potential unseeded opponents taking form
This is how issues are shaping up in the mean time. Celtic is poised to face the likes of Norwegian aspect Viking Stavanger, Austrian outfit LASK Linz, while the likes of Slovenia’s NK Celje or Aarat-Armenia additionally in with an opportunity of offering the opposition within the money-spinning play-off.
Cypriot aspect Omonia Nicosia, who had been as soon as coached by Neil Lennon are additionally a risk, holding a 1-0 win over our previous foes Kairat Almaty, however they meet later as we speak in Kazakhstan for a spot within the last play off.
Martin O’Neill of Celtic FC. Sporting CP v Celtic, Pre Season Pleasant, Soccer, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 14 July 2026. Photograph Zed Jameson IMAGO/ Shutterstock
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The hardest impediment Martin O’Neill’s aspect can face within the two legged shootout is no doubt Greek aspect AEK Athens who’re unseeded, however had been so almost promoted to the identical pot as Celtic, just for Dynamo Zagreb to tug off a spirited comeback final night time to return from behind to keep away from defeat to Swiss aspect FC Thun.
AEK Athens are most likely a aspect we might wish to keep away from
AEK Athens are most likely a aspect we might wish to keep away from, with our defeat to the Greek aspect again in 2018 nonetheless recent within the thoughts. That after all was an sad summer season with Celtic lacking out on a midfielder as a result of we might received just a few hundred grand extra for his signature with the participant completely determined on the time to affix Celtic.
Mika Baur of SC Paderborn reacts through the 2. Bundesliga match between SV 07 Elversberg and SC Paderborn 07 at Ursapharm-Area on Might 03, 2026 in Spiesen-Elversberg, Germany. (Photograph by Alex Grimm/Getty Pictures)
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Baur scenario jogs my memory of John McGinn standoff again in 2018
If that does not sound acquainted then have a learn at my earlier article on Mika Baur. The midfielder in the very same place again in the summertime of 2018 was after all John McGinn.
What you might want to find out about Champions League
When is the Champions League play-off video games resulting from be performed?
The primary legs are scheduled for 18 or 19 August with the returns on 25 or 26 August.
When is the League section draw for the Champions League?
If Martin O’Neill and his gamers are profitable of their play-off ties, they may go into the draw for the eight sport League section on Thursday 27 August.
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They’d face an additional eight video games in that competitors.
Celtic Park forward of the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season pleasant at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photograph by WM Sport Media/Getty Pictures)
Matchday 1: 8-10 September 2026
Matchday 2: 13-14 October 2026
Matchday 3: 20-21 October 2026
Matchday 4: 3-4 November 2026
Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
Matchday 6: 8-9 December 2026
Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
Celtic Park forward of the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season pleasant at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photograph by WM Sport Media/Getty Pictures)
Europa League Particulars
Within the occasion that Celtic fall on the play-off hurdle, identical to final 12 months then equally we are going to drop into the Europa League, League section the place we are going to face one other eight video games with the video games being performed on Thursday nights.
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The draw for Europe’s secondary competitors takes place on Friday 28 August.
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Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill arrives on the floor forward of kick off within the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season pleasant at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photograph by WM Sport Media/Getty Pictures)