Who can Celtic play in the Champions League play off?

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester City v Celtic - UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Group C - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England - 6/12/16 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers shakes hands with Scott Brown after the game Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

For the sixth season running Celtic will take their place in the Play Off for the Champions League group phase.

A goal from James Forrest in the 68th minute earned the hoops a 1-0 aggregate win over Rosenborg and the chance to repeat last season’s achievement of reaching the group phase.

The draw will take place at 11am Celtic Park time on Friday with the hoops seeded in the Champions Route.

With so much experience of these type of matches Celtic will be the team to avoid with Brendan Rodgers side showing their know how tonight in Norway.

So far in four qualifying ties Celtic have yet to lose a goal with the team clearly progressing game by game as they push towards another place in the group phase that will bring £30m and buckets of prestige.

Other than a 10 minute spell at the start of the second half Celtic controlled the game throughout but it needed a great strike from Forrest to separate the sides.

After going in front Celtic looked more likely to add a second than concede one with Rosenborg now looking forward to the play-off round of the Europa League.

SLAVIA PRAGUE

Went through on away goals tonight after losing 2-1 away to Bate Borisov who were the seeded side.

After drawing 0-0 last month in a pre-season friendly the hoops will have nothing to fear from against the Czech champions.

ASTANA

Another unseeded side in the third round that came up with an upset- a very welcome one knocking out Legia Warsaw.

It took a late penalty from Moussa Dembele to KO Astana last season, it’s likely to be another tough one if they are paired with the hoops for the second season running.

RIJEKA

Surprisingly saw off Salzburg to reach the group phase, drawing 0-0 at home after a 1-1 first leg draw in Austria.

You rarely get poor teams winning the Croatian league- with the incentive of a first ever group phase to go for they will be talented and dangerous.

HAPOEL BEER SHEVA

Another familiar name, they’ll be keen to get revenge for last season’s KO at this stage.

They have never reached the group phase of the Champions League but have progressed a lot in recent seasons and saw off Ludogorets on away goals despite losing 3-1 tonight.

QARABAG

Yet another familiar name, it took a Dedryck Boyata header in 2015 to see Celtic through in the third round to earn a crack at Malmo.

Exit mobile version