Everything you need to know about Celtic’s Champions League playoff draw

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The Celtic Star

·01 de agosto de 2025

Everything you need to know about Celtic’s Champions League playoff draw

Celtic’s possible Champions League playoff opponents for Monday’s draw have now been confirmed…

UEFA Champions League branded microphones are seen on a desk prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Wednesday evening’s conclusion of the Second Qualifying Round finalised the list of potential opponents that Brendan Rodgers’ side could face at the end of this month.

Vídeos OneFootball

Several surprises unfolded, including top unseeded team Maccabi Tel Aviv being eliminated by Cyprus’ Pafos, while Romanian title-holders FCSB were beaten by North Macedonian’s Shkendija.

Being a seeded side in the Champions Path, Celtic cannot face teams such as Bodo/Glimt, Copenhagen OR Malmo, Ferencvaros OR Ludogorets, and Red Star Belgrade OR Lech Poznan.

Nicolas Kuhn scores during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Instead, the Hoops will be matched with either one of the two unseeded teams already through to the Play-Offs or one of three winners emerging from the still-to-be-decided Third Qualifying Round clashes which commence next week.

Celtic’s possible opponents ahead of Monday’s draw are as follows: Slovan Bratislava OR Kairat, Basel, Qarabag OR Shkendija, Pafos OR Dynamo Kyiv, and Sturm Graz.

With Maccabi Tel Aviv thankfully out, Slovan Bratislava – Celtic’s opening opponents in last season’s Champions League campaign – now hold the highest UEFA coefficient among the unseeded teams. On the other hand, Shkendija are considered the lowest-ranked side based on European results over the past five years.

18 02 2025, Champions League, FC Bayern Muenchen vs Celtic Glasgow, Allianz Arena Muenchen, Brendan Rodgers Celtic Glasgow. Photo IMAGO

While being seeded provides an advantage in the draw for Celtic, it does not guarantee hosting the second leg at Celtic Park – that is decided by whichever team is drawn first in each matchup on Monday.

All two-legged encounters are scheduled for the dates of 19 and 20 August , with the second legs taking place on 26 and 27 August.

Also, Celtic can postpone their Scottish Premiership fixture against Livingston at Celtic Park which is sandwiched between the two-legged qualifier in conjunction with new SPFL and SFA rules this season that seek to help clubs in European competition.

Winners from each Champions League playoff tie advance to the 36-team League Phase, whereas the defeated teams are guaranteed to play Europa League football until January 2026.

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park Dermot Desmond in the stands ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Securing qualification to Europe’s elite club competition for a fourth consecutive season could earn Celtic over £40 million when combining UEFA prize money, broadcasting rights, and ticket sales.

Conor Spence

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