The two huge clubs Celtic could draw in Champions League knockout play-offs

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The Independent

·30 de enero de 2025

The two huge clubs Celtic could draw in Champions League knockout play-offs

Celtic are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2013, with Brendan Rodgers’ side now awaiting their fate ahead of Friday’s play-off draw.

The 1967 European champions have benefitted from the new-look Champions League format and ensured their progression to the knockout rounds with a game to spare, despite a 7-1 hammering away to Borussia Dortmund early on.

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The Glasgow side recovered, claiming valuable home wins over RB Leipzig and Young Boys while earning points on the road away to Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb before losing a thriller to Aston Villa on the final matchday on Wednesday night.

And with a comfortable lead over rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race and the League Cup already secured, Celtic can start dreaming of knockout football returning to Parkhead for the first time since losing out to Juventus in February 2013.

The clubs Celtic could draw in Champions League

After finishing the league phase as the 21st seed, Celtic will have to negotiate the play-off rounds.

And Celtic will be among the non-seeded sides for Friday’s draw, which will determine the exact position of the teams in the bracket. They will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the play-offs.

By finishing 21st, Celtic ensured they will face either the 11th-place team (Real Madrid) or the 12th-place team (Bayern Munich), with Manchester City, who finished 22nd, facing the other one. It guarantees an absolute blockbuster tie in the play-offs.