Celtic in the Europa League – A deep run is pretty much essential

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The Celtic Star

·29 August 2025

Celtic in the Europa League – A deep run is pretty much essential

No Celtic supporter truly wanted to be talking about the Europa League at this stage of the season. The dream was Champions League nights, the glamour, the money, and the chance to test ourselves against Europe’s elite.

Celtic line up Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

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Instead, we’ve landed in UEFA’s consolation prize cup. But whether we like it or not, this is our stage now – and we need to treat it seriously.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were seeded in Pot 2 for the Europa League league phase, and today’s draw in Nyon has paired Celtic with eight varied and pretty exciting opponents.

Reo Hatate of Celtic applauds Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

They will be – Roma, Feyenoord, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, Midtjylland, Utrecht and Bologna. Four ties at Celtic Park, four away – no return fixtures, just one crack at each opponent.

The format is unforgiving. Thirty-six teams in one giant league table, with only the top eight going straight into the Round of 16. Clubs placed 9th–24th drop into a knockout play-off, while the rest pack their bags for good. Every match matters, every point counts.

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

For Celtic, the draw looks like this:

Roma (home)

Feyenoord (away)

Braga (home)

Red Star Belgrade (away)

Sturm Graz (home)

Midtjylland (away)

Utrecht (home)

Bologna (away)

Liam Scales of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025 Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

The fixtures will be spread from September through to January, with UEFA set to confirm the exact order soon. The matchday dates are:

Matchday 1: 24–25 September 2025

Matchday 2: 2 October 2025

Matchday 3: 23 October 2025

Matchday 4: 6 November 2025

Matchday 5: 27 November 2025

Matchday 6: 11 December 2025

Matchday 7: 22 January 2026

Matchday 8: 29 January 2026

Kieran Tierney of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

Celtic simply cannot afford to limp through this competition. Our club co-efficient is pretty poor after years of disappointment in Europe but recent form in the Champions League gives us plenty cause for optimism.

That poor record not only damages our reputation but also threatens future seedings, which in turn makes qualification harder. It’s a vicious cycle – and the only way to break it is to string together results in a tournament like this.

So yes, the Champions League is gone for another year. But this is still a serious European campaign. Roma at home is a massive occasion, Feyenoord away recalls old rivalries, and a trip to Belgrade will be as hostile as they come. Bologna, Braga, Utrecht, Midtjylland and Sturm Graz will all fancy their chances against us too, but we will against them also. There are no easy nights here and for developing our players this kind of draw is ideal.

Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 August 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

The fixtures run from late September through to January, with UEFA set to confirm the exact schedule in the coming days. By then, Celtic Park will need to be brimming with belief and shake off a Champions League hangover.

Because whether this is the lesser competition or not, Rodgers and his players have a responsibility to compete, to win, and build on the European progression we’ve been showing under this manager.

A deep run in this is almost essential. Here are the dates for the knockout phase of the Europa League..

Knockout phase play-offs: 19 & 26 February 2026

Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026

Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026

Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026

Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)

Niall J

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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