Champions League 20/21

With little chance of a full Parkhead any time soon, club won’t be able to sell tickets for the group games as they’re all on BT so it’s vital we get to the groups to ensure as large a portion of the TV money as possible, this season’s qualifiers are probably the most important, financially for many years

 

With much of the focus on the return of the Premiership, it's easy to forget that Celtic will be back in European action in less than a month.

Qualifying for the 2020-21 Champions League will kick-off on August 8, with Neil Lennon's side entering in the first qualifying round.


The qualifying ties will be single-leg affairs, with the home team decided by a draw. The play-off round will be two-legged and played in late September.

The Hoops will go through the champions path, so can't face the likes of AZ Alkmaar, Viktoria Plzen or Rapid Vienna, who didn't win their respective domestic leagues, at any point in their run.

Here's how Celtic's path could play out.




Celtic will enter at the first qualifying round but Neil Lennon's team are guaranteed seeded status.


Coefficients are calculated based on a five-year average and the Hoops have 34.000 points, the most of any team entering at that stage.





That will see them avoid the likes of Red Star, Astana and Legia Warsaw.

Potential opponents include Dynamo Brest, Europa FC and Connah's Quay Nomads.





What Celtic will want to keep an eye on is the finish to the Swiss Super League.

Basle are currently outside the Champions League places, but if they can overcome a seven point gap to St Gallen in the remaining six games they'll enter at the second qualifying round with 54.000 points.

They couldn't face the Hoops, who will again be seeded, but it would have implications further down the line.

Potential opponents at this stage include Ferencvaros, Dundalk and Slovan Bratislava.



Greek champions Olympiakos enter at this round but Celtic will still be seeded and can't face them.

They also won't face Czech champions Slavia Prague but, depending on previous rounds, could face Red Star or Legia Warsaw at this stage.


Remember the importance of Basle and the Swiss League?

Let's assume here that they win their division and enter into the second round.

That would have implications for Celtic if the Swiss side make it this far.

Ajax (69.500 points) and FC Salzburg (53.500 points) are guaranteed to be among the four seeds, and would be joined by Basel and Olympiakos (43.000 points) if they make it through.


That would mean Celtic would be unseeded and would face one of those sides over two legs.

If St Gallen or Young Boys win the Swiss Super League though the Hoops would make it in as fourth seed and assuming previous rounds go to coefficient would face either Dinamo Zagreb, Astana or Slavia Prague plus another unseeded team.

 

Many rounds we got before the playoff?

 

3.

 

Ffs, thought we would have less

 

Should be right in the group stages.

But it’s no as easy as that.

 

In before "Can we draw Arsenal?".

 

The * sort of random comment is that?
Perhaps we should watch to see what happens With Barcelona in the group stage, as it could have implications further down the line?

 

Ajax and salzburg would be tough imo ,

Come on St Gallen and the Young boys of berne

 

Btw st gallen are seven points ahead of Basel


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Guess it looks the traditional we'll try and Swan it without spending a penny. We start the league 2 weeks today, a week later Europe.

Must be a tradition to make sure we enter a CL without a pivotal piece of the team, be it a striker, centre half or now a goalie. Bain is going to be our no. 1 until after the qualifiers, at best Marshall, maybe, with no game time with the team.

 

The window opening so late hurts us, as with some leagues still going on. Some Teams won't want to sell unless they know they have replacements lined up others will concentrate on buying and selling once their season is over.

Do we need to name a squad for the qualifiers or can we name a new squad each round?

 

Not sure, good question.

I'd be under the impression the squad is going to have to be named and stuck to as technically its no different as the window is always open during the qualifiers. With it being fast tracked I can't see them allowing new registrations as you go. The reality is the player you maybe buy is already registered to another team playing in Europe.

We're still acting too slow, we aren't buying any major shakers so teams not wanting to sell isn't really a viable excuse for them.

Most leagues are ended and some other leagues that have usually started will be in pre season, making it even easier to sign.

 

Looks like we are seeded for all CL qualifiers if we progress now that Basel can’t win Swiss league.

 

Good stuff