With three slots to fill here is Celtic’s Champions League options

The three final Champions League places will be decided tonight ahead of tomorrow’s group stage draw.

Celtic will be in Pot 4 which rules out Newcastle United or Real Sociedad as possible opponents but there is no shortage of tasty options including all three of last season’s opponents.

Real Madrid and RB Leipzig are in Pot 2 which gives Celtic a one in four chance of a rematch but the complex of the group will depend on the Pot 1 opponent.

In order to boost the status of league winners the champions from the top six countries get a Pot 1 slot as well as the winners of the Champions League (Manchester City) and Europa League (Seville).

With City also winning the EPL Dutch champions Feyenoord are in Pot 1 alongside Benfica which would be a less daunting draw than Bayern Munch, Napoli or Paris Saint Germain.

Here’s how the CL groups are shaping up with 3 playoff games to go.

If Rakow beat Copenhagen tomorrow they’ll go into Pot 4, moving YBB up to Pot 3. Copenhagen lead 1-0 from the 1st leg in Poland.

The winner of Rangers/PSV is in Pot 3. The winner of Antwerp/AEK is in Pot 4. pic.twitter.com/MnJH61LCsC

— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 29, 2023

Pot 2 possibly has more glamorous names with Manchester United, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund included.

Pot 3 carries plenty of danger in AC Milan and Lazio but there are also clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Star Belgrade and Copenhagen that an on form Celtic should be capable of matching.

Of more pressing concern is strengthening the squad that has failed to score Kilmarnock and St Johnstone with three of the four first choice central defenders out injured for four months.

The group stage dates are September 19/20, October 3 4, October 24/25, November 7/8, November 28/29 and December 12/13.