The identity of the eight Champions League drop-outs was completed last night ahead of Monday’s draw for the last 32 of the Europa League.
Olympiacos FC, Liverpool FC, FC Zenit, RSC Anderlecht, AS Roma, AFC Ajax, Sporting Clube de Portugal and Athletic Club Bilbao all finished in third place but Celtic can only be drawn against Olympiacos, Zenit, Sporting Lisbon or Athletic Bilbao as only the four best placed third placed Champions League sides will be seeded. After losing to Red Bull Salzburg Celtic will finish runners-up to the Austrians and will be unseeded.
Only the four best placed Champions League sides will be seeded alongside the 12 Europa League group winners for the draw. UEFA have decided that club’s from the same country can’t be drawn together which rules out Everton or Spurs, both group winners, to face Liverpool which slightly increases Celtic’s chances of drawing an English side.
The matches will be played on February 19 and 26 with the unseeded teams at home for the first leg meaning that Celtic will be on their travels on February 26.
Tonight the hoops complete the group stages away to Dinamo Zagreb with only pride and co-efficient points up for grabs.
Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew and James Forrest have been left behind along with the ineligible John Guidetti but Deila is happy with the squad that he has taken to Croatia.
Those absences could open the way for Kris Commons to return with Deila explaining the current situation of last season’s leading scorer.
“It’s possible Kris could get a start,” the Celtic boss said. “He has been injured for a while but has been coming on as a substitute and is ready for a start.
“When people get their chance it is up to them to take it. The contract talks are still ongoing.”