Blogs

Celtic to pack their bags as UEFA decide against geographical split in Champions League draw

Photo of Joe McHugh Joe McHugh | 08:30 17/07/15
Image for Celtic to pack their bags as UEFA decide against geographical split in Champions League draw

Champions LeagueUEFA have decided against a geographical split for the third round qualifying draw for the Champions League which could see Celtic sent to Poland, Serbia or Albania.

With ten ties to be drawn UEFA have split the matches into two groups of five with HJK Helsinki or Crusaders of Belfast as the only ‘local’ opponents should Celtic get past Stjarnan next week.

As a seeded side Celtic will play against one of the winners of the following matches to reach the final play-off stage:

FK Sarajevo (BIH)/KKS Lech Poznan (POL),


FK Partizan (SRB)/FC Dila Gori (GEO),


Qarabag FK (AZE)/FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE),


HJK Helsinki (FIN)/FK Ventspils (LVA),


KF Skënderbeu (ALB)/Crusaders FC (NIR)

At the same stage last season Celtic were drawn against Legia Warsaw with a return trip to Poland probably best avoided at this stage.

The other half of the draw, shown below, includes the champions of Sweden, Norway and Denmark but there is no chance of Celtic getting any of those sides as they attempt to reach the play-off stage.

Seeded:
FC Salzburg (AUT), 
FC Viktoria Pilzen (CZE), 
APOEL FC (CYP)/FK Vardar (MKD), 
FC BATE Borisov (BLR)/Dundalk FC (IRL), 
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)/CS Fola Esch (LUX)

Unseeded:
Hibernians FC (MLT)/ Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR),

 
Malmö FF (SWE)/FK Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU),

Molde FK (NOR)/FC Pyunik (ARM),

FC Midtjylland (DEN)/Lincoln FC (GIB),

Molde FK (NOR)/FC Pyunik (ARM)

The New Saints FC (WAL)/Videoton FC (HUN)

The draw will start at 11am Celtic Park time giving clubs more than a week to make travel arrangements with the first leg of the third round ties being played on July 28 and 29.

Videocelts Extension Button

Share this article

Joe McHugh

Joe McHugh has edited Video Celts since 2010, every day covering events in and around Scotland's most successful club.

When a six year stretch at the Sunday Mirror came to an end it was clear that the future was digital, print had ran its race.

Smart phones and social media created a new landscape, Video Celts has certainly made an impact with Joe described as having an unhealthy obsession by Peter Lawwell at the 2024 Celtic AGM. A priceless endorsement.

There are issues breaking around the clock, no two days are the same. More than 50 years on from his first match Joe is enjoying the ongoing successes of Celtic.

‹ Previous
Next ›

4 comments

  • colin garvey says:
    July 17, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Let’s not assume we are through. We have still a difficult game at their ground to get through. REMEMBER ALWAYS TO TAKE ONE GAME AT A TIME

  • John hughes says:
    July 17, 2015 at 10:49 am

    Yes one game at a time but feel very confident getting through this tie and hopefully decent draw for 3rd qualifier.

  • Colin53 says:
    July 17, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    If we get through we have a trip to either Azerbaijan or Macedonia, fairly tough ties think you will agree

  • Vincent Doherty says:
    July 17, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    I think there should be a huge sense of relief. Rather than talking up our potential opponents we should be confident about our passage to the last qualifying round. It’s only then when we should be worried about opposition that can really test us. Away the Bhoys!

Comments are closed.