Celtic fans have not had the best of times in European competitions in recent seasons, but our 2024/25 Champions League adventure has turned into a pretty impressive one for a variety of reasons.
Naturally, our board will be delighted with the revenues that we have already seen flow into the Parkhead coffers from our involvement in the newly revamped 36 team league format, but more importantly fans have again been able to truly experience some wonderful European nights under the flood lights and for fans who like a flutter on their football with the likes of betpack, we have definitely had the results to back it up as well.
Opening the tournament with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava was almost a sign of things to come (if we ignore the Dortmund Borussia game!), and we also secured very credible victories over RB Leipzig and Young Boys, and for a while it looked like we might sneak the automatic qualification spots, but sadly it was not to be.
Despite losing in the midweek clash at Villa Park to Aston Villa, we more than did ourselves proud with the initial fightback and the over all performance and as well as plenty of plaudits for the showing that manager Brendan Rodgers’ side put in, we have also helped ourselves to plenty of headlines as we secured our place in the Play Off rounds.
The league table makes for strange viewing really, we were only four points off the automatic knockout spots, three points behind Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid and we actually finished one point ahead of Pep Guardiola’s serial winning Manchester City side.
Given the way the seeding works and our finishing spot in 21st place in the table, we already know that our Play Off ties will be mouth watering affairs whichever way you look at it. It is either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich on a home and away front, and it is simply going to be a night to remember at Celtic Park when we welcome the Galacticos or FC Hollywood to our home soil.
We find out exactly who at the draw on Friday and our gaffer is already relishing which ever team we end up with, as these are the kinds of games you get into professional football for and lots of managers and players simply never get to experience a game of this magnitude.
Underdogs or not they will be games to relish, and Rodgers should have the players right up for it and given that it will be our first European knockout since way back in 2013, those amongst the Celtic faithful (particularly those who have not experienced games at this stage of the tournament before) will certainly be ready to give their all and play their part in what would have to be potential major upsets.
Rodgers said that he felt ‘pride’ in the side after our efforts on Wednesday evening, that will be all any of us will be asking to feel across the next two games, and if we prove ourselves to be competitive once again, then what will be will be.
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