If, and it’s still a case of if, Celtic overcome Hapoel Beer Sheva to reach the group stage of the Champions League there are a few changes lying in store in the draw.
Unfortunately after a few seasons towards the top of the third seeded group of teams the hoops are stuck firmly in pot four meaning that they will be drawn against three teams with higher coefficients
When Celtic have qualified in the past they’ve usually found themselves drawn in pot three and been able to get the better of Benfica who were in the group of second seeded teams.
Some tinkering has gone on with the format but whatever plan UEFA come up with it’s difficult to see a group that would give Brendan Rodgers side a fighting chance of success.
Later this year UEFA will sit down to another revamp of the Champions League and it’s unlikely that it’s going to be favourable to Celtic or to anyone outside of the elite nations.
Playing the emotional card earlier this week Rodgers said: “For European football, they need the big clubs in there. But Celtic is a big club, a huge club. The competition is a better place for clubs such as Celtic and Ajax, for example – teams with great history in the European Cup and Champions League.
“It’s not just for our club, it is for the opposition as well because for them to come to Celtic Park in the Champions League is an experience many great players over the years have spoken about. It is one of the best experiences they have ever had.
“So European football deserves Celtic at the top table. Okay, there obviously has to be conditions for them [the other clubs] to get there as well. I understand and respect the money in England and elsewhere. I was a part of it for a number of years. I see where that’s at.
“But surely it’s not all about the money. It’s also about the prestige and there has to be a door open – and a door open wide enough – for the type of clubs like Celtic and the great historical clubs of European football.”
CLICK HERE to see how the seeds are shaping up and who the hoops could be up against.
POT ONE
Last season UEFA decided to introduce a champions element to the Champions League by awarding league winners Pot 1 status as well as the trophy holders (Real Madrid).
Manchester City benefited from the change going in as a Pot 1 side after finding themselves getting horror draws from Pot 3 while Arsenal went in as a Pot 1 side season after season without getting a sniff of the Premier League title.
Filling up the places are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Leicester City, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Benfica, PSG and CSKA Moscow.
POT TWO
With the change to the seedings a number of teams in Pot 2 have higher coefficients than those in Pot 1.
In reality there isn’t much difference between the top pots, Pot 1 has the form teams fresh from winning their title with Pot 2 hosting teams that are regularly in the knock-out stages.
Filling up the places in Pot 2 are Atletico Madrid, Brussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Manchester City, Seville, *Porto, Napoli and Bayern Leverkusen. Porto are in danger of being knocked out after drawing at home to Roma, if that happens Basel will move up into Pot 2.
POT THREE
This pot consists of a lot of big name clubs that haven’t quite lived up to their reputations in recent seasons.
In reality this pot is likely to provide the opposition to Celtic looking for third place and a route into the Europa League.
Basel are in line to move up if Porto fail against Roma, elsewhere in Pot Three you will find Spurs, Dinamo Kiev, Lyon, PSV Eindhoven, and Sporting Lisbon with Ajax and Villarreal involved in the play-off stage.
DREAM GROUP
Leicester City, Bayern Leverkusen and Ajax would be perfect in terms of transport and giving the team a chance of progressing.
Ajax again would be a bit tasty off the park but after last season’s Europa League ties a team managed by Rodgers would be capable of taking four points.
Gary Lineker wouldn’t be the only person looking forward to a couple of matches with Leicester, the recent friendly wasn’t much of a guide but again four points or even two from two matches would be possible while 2002 finalists Leverkusen wouldn’t be as scary opponents as Bayern Munich.
NIGHTMARE GROUP
Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Spurs would be a group best avoided.
The all in wrestling from Juve the last time around left a bitter taste in the mouth while trips to Turin have never been much fun for supporters.
And the same could be said for Atletico, twice finalists in recent seasons and a club that know their way around the Champions League, it would be a brave punter that backed against them reaching the last eight of this seasons event.
A couple of matches with Spurs would certainly lift the roof at Celtic Park but the ticket allocation for White Hart Lane would create an almighty scramble, there are enough Celtic fans in London to fill the ground never mind those that would be looking to travel from Scotland and Ireland.