Celtic’s Champions League route

With just three points needed to officially clinch the Premiership title Celtic can officially look forward to the qualification process for next season’s Champions League.

Next season’s European results will be critical with major changes scheduled for the 2018/19 season which will involve four qualifying rounds with major countries that have had automatic group entry being pushed into the qualification process as the top four countries are guaranteed four places in the group phase.

The co-efficient is based on a five year cycle of results with Celtic’s 2012/13 season in use for the last time.

Getting through two rounds of qualifying to reach the last 16 of the Champions League with 10 points was a significant achievement.

In terms of co-efficient the best outcome that Celtic could hope for would be finishing a strong third in their Champions League then enjoying a decent run in the Europa League. Sevilla and Benfica have used this route in recent seasons to build up a strong co-efficient.

Although four qualifying rounds will be harder to negotiate Celtic will enter based on their own co-efficient rather than Scotland’s which is now down to 25th in the UEFA rankings

The draw for the second qualifying round takes place on June 19 with the matches played on July 11/12 and 18/19.

SECOND ROUND

This is generally a fairly friendly round, little more than an extension of the pre-season build up.

Iceland, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland have been visited in recent seasons with similar fare anticipated, generally this round is regionalised.

As it stands the toughest opponents would be Zalgiris Vilnius from Lithuania, Dundalk or The New Saints of Wales.

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND

Last season we got it tough with Astana, the previous season it was Qarabag that provided the opposition.

As things stand, and assuming that they get through their opening ties, the toughest opponents would be Rijeka of Croatia, Rosenborg or last seasons play-off opponents Hapoel Beer Sheva.

With the benefits of last season’s experience Celtic should be well equipped to negotiate through to the final qualifying stage.

THE PLAY OFF ROUND

The Champions route again provides five qualifying places, as Hapoel proved last season the seedings rarely go to plan.

As it stands Celtic would be up against the champions of Belarus, Cyprus, Slovenia, Sweden or Kazakhstan.
At the moment that could see a return trip to Astana or Malmo while Bate Borisov of Belarus are the highest ranked opponents.

If we can get through that little obstacle course it’ll be time to book up for the Nou Camp again.