Dare to dream as Celtic secure qualification to Champions League knockouts

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·27 January 2025

Dare to dream as Celtic secure qualification to Champions League knockouts

Celtic dare to dream as they secure qualification to the Champions League knockouts…

Adam Idah celebrates with teammate Alistair Johnston after Loris Benito of BSC Young Boys concedes an own goal, resulting in the first goal for Celtic, during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

A significant milestone

Celtic have reached a significant milestone by advancing to the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in 10 years, securing their place with a game to spare. This achievement marks their best performance in Europe’s elite competition since 2013, providing a much-needed boost for Brendan Rodgers and his squad.

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Their journey to the knockouts hasn’t been without drama. A narrow 1-0 victory over BSC Young Boys in their last match saw three of their goals be disallowed, whilst they also missed a penalty!

Arne Engels takes a penalty kick, which is saved by Marvin Keller during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

New Champions League format suits Celtic

The new Champions League format makes this final group match even more pivotal. Only the top eight teams bypass the knockout play-off phase to advance directly to the Round of 16.

Celtic currently sit in 18th, but they still have a small chance of breaking into the top eight. A fair few results have to go their way, but the fact they still have a slim chance emphasises how good their European campaign has been.

A win against Aston Villa could significantly improve Celtic’s chances

Celtic’s final group-stage match is an away fixture against Premier League side Aston Villa, who are also thriving in the competition. While Celtic have already secured a spot in the knockout phase, a win against Villa could significantly improve their chances of getting a lot further in the competition.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic attempts a kick for score his goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. Photo JustPictures.ch – Eurasia Sport Images

Under the revised format, teams ranked 9th to 16th will be seeded and drawn against teams placed 17th to 24th. If Celtic finish 11th, for example, they could face a team ranked 21st or 22nd. Their current position of 18th, however, would pit them against a side ranked 15th or 16th. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich currently hold these positions, the two European giants are among the favourites to win the Champions League, with Real second favourite and Bayern fifth.

Higher finish in group stage the better

Although Celtic have already achieved qualification, the threat of facing a European giant in the play-off stage emphasises the importance of earning points against Villa. Securing a higher seed could significantly improve their chances of advancing further in the tournament.

Kyogo signs for Rennes. Photo Rennes FC

Celtic coping without Kyogo

They’ll have to try and cope without Kyogo Furuhashi, who has completed his moved to French side Rennes. The forward will leave a sizeable void in the Celtic team, having scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the Bhoys are to replace him before the January transfer window closes. They may be fine without Kyogo Furuhashi domestically, as Celtic are cruising with a 10-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand on top; however, they will need added firepower for the Champions League.

Callum McGregor celebrates with his teammates after winning during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025 Photo JustPictures.ch/Richard Callis. IMAGO

Now that they have made it to the knockout stages, Celtic can dare to dream of how far they can get in this competition.