Celtic’s Champions League fixtures have been confirmed this morning with an away trip to Rotterdam to take on Feyenoord opening the Celtic’s campaign on Tuesday 19 September. The first Champions League match of the season at Paradise then takes place on Wednesday 4th October and the opposition is our old Italian pals Lazio – that should be quite a night!
We’re also at home on match-day three, this time against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and many of the older generations of Celtic Supporters will have plenty of ill-feeling towards them from their memories view of previous encounters in the 1970s.
The Celtic v Atletico Madrid match takes place on Wednesday 25th October under the lights at Celtic Park and this is the first leg of the usual double header so we’re in Madrid on Tuesday 7th November to take on Atletico on Match-day 4.
Then it’s back to Rome – where we have some very happy recent memories – to play Lazio on Tuesday 28th November before finishing up in the group stages on Wednesday 13th December at Paradise against the Dutch Champions Feyenoord and hopefully that’s a major celebration event for the Celtic support. We owe them one for 1970!
Champions League 2023/24 season – Group E – Fixtures
Tuesday 19th September – Feyenoord v Celtic – 8pm
Wednesday 4th October – Celtic v Lazio -8pm
Wednesday 25th October – Celtic v Atletico Madrid -8pm
Tuesday 7th November – Atletico Madrid v Celtic -8pm
Tuesday 28th November – Lazio v Celtic – 5.45pm
Wednesday 13th December – Celtic v Feyenoord -8pm
Can Celtic get through this group? There’s a realistic chance this time and that’s not always the case sadly. When the opportunity arises we therefore need to grab it with both hands. Getting the injury list reduced and some key players back will be crucial and the team needs to start finding some decent form quickly – hopefully starting tomorrow – and we can go to Rotterdam with some confidence.
The first half of the group with the trip to Rotterdam and two home games logically indicates we need to start well in the group and be well placed before trips to Madrid and Rome. Otherwise that game against Feyenoord in December could be a dead rubber.
European football after Christmas must be the target, whether that’s remaining in the Champions League or dropping into the Europa League. Anything less is another failure.
Here’s the Scottish Premiership fixtures around each Champions League fixture…
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week and if you join today you will receive a Champions League Scarf.
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week and if you join today you will receive a Champions League Scarf.