CELTIC avoided Greek Champions PAOK and Red Star Belgrade in the third round draw for the Champions league Qualifiers. If we get past the Estonian Champions Nomme Kalju in the second round we will face a trip to Israel or Romania to play either Maccabi Tel Aviv or CFR Cluj in the first leg – this can be regarded as a decent draw for Celtic. Ties played on the 6/7 August and 13/14 August.
Maccabi Tel Aviv enter the qualifiers at the third round stage while CFR Cluj knocked out Astana in the last round 302 on aggregate and we have plenty of experience of the competence of Astana in this competition.
Celtic took care of Sarajevo 5-2 on aggregate in the first qualifying round and now face Nomme Kalju on Wednesday in the first leg of the second round of qualifiers at Celtic Park. Neil Lennon will be hoping to win be a decent margin to put the tie to bed.
PAOK have been drawn against Ajax who are a seeded team, so Celtic will not face then in the Fourth Play-of rounds either as if they progressed they would take the Ajer seeded position. It’s a tough draw from last season’s Champions League semi-finalists.
???? If #CelticFC progress in the #UCL, they will face either CFR Cluj or Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the @ChampionsLeague Third Qualifying Round. pic.twitter.com/XThR3VW8VK
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 22, 2019
Here’s what happened in today’s UEFA Champions League draw…
More to follow…
