Celtic have been given a favourable drawn for the first two qualifying rounds of the 2020/21 Champions League in the new look, winner-takes-all shoot out as Neil Lennon’s men look to make up for the agonising disappointment of last season’s campaign.
The Daily Record reports that the Hoops will face the champions of Finland, Reykjavik, in the first qualifying round before taking on Hungary’s Ferencvaros or Djurgardens from Sweden in the second round, it is unsure where the ties will take place yet although Parkhead remains the most likely venue for the first round fixture.
If Celtic can come through these games unscathed they will play one more single leg qualifier before the final two legged play-off to make it to the, much needed, riches that the group stages of Europe’s premier competition provides.
A potential rematch with Cluj has been avoided but Lennon’s men should be confident of making it to the latter stages of the preliminaries having reached the last 32 of the Europa League in 2019/20 beating Lazio home and away in the process.
Will Celtic make the group stages of the Champions League?
Yes
No
The continental performances of the two Glasgow sides have earned an extra Champions League place next season and a reduction in the number of qualifiers that would need to be played to make the group stages, Hoops fans will be hoping that a successful campaign in Europe added to another domestic title will bring a return of automatic qualification so that the play-off lottery is avoided in future years.
All fingers will be crossed that Lennon can guide his men through the perilous qualifying stages which will see Celtic once again rub shoulders amongst European football’s giants, back where they truly belong.