Celtic followers are licking their wounds after a sobering evening within the Champions League in Leipzig - however all hope shouldn't be misplaced for Ange Postecoglou's knockout stage dream.
RB Leipzig put a serious dent within the Scottish Premiership champions’ hopes of securing second spot within the group to achieve the final 16 with their 3-1 win in Germany, and the 2 will do all of it once more at Celtic Park subsequent week after an all-action encounter in spherical one. With European champions Actual Madrid operating away with high spot in Group F after seeing off Shakhtar Donesk on the Bernabeu it leaves the Ukrainian champions, Marco Rose's males and Celtic to battle it out for second spot.
The Hoops are rooted to the underside of the part on the halfway stage with only a level from the three video games, however punters will consider there may be nonetheless an opportunity of constant their European journey. Celtic Park may play a significant component earlier than a matchday six showdown with Los Blancos.
However Celtic may go into the ultimate day not even needing some extent. Document Sport maps out the path to the final 16 for the Hoops.
Matchday 4
To kickstart the push for the Champions League final 16, a win in opposition to RB Leipzig is a should. Marco Rose's males at the moment sit on three factors, and Celtic would leapfrog their rivals to maneuver into a 3rd positioned Europa League slot at the least.
The Celtic Park environment might be a significant component underneath the lights with the Parkhead followers set to create a cauldron for the visiting German facet. With a win, consideration would then flip to Actual Madrid' s journey to Krakow to face Shakhtar Donesk.
The Ukrainian champions gave the Galacticos one thing to consider final evening, however Carlo Ancelotti's males held on to safe the three factors. Celtic might be hoping the European powerhouse can get the anticipated end result and maintain Shakhtar on 4 factors.
When Celtic have beforehand reached the knockout stage in 2007/08 and 2012/13 the matchday 4 residence fixture has been key. A win over Benfica in 2007 proved to be the turning level again in 2007, whereas the historic win over Barcelona put Neil Lennon's Celtic on target for the final 16.
Matchday 5
Ought to every little thing go to plan for Postecoglou, they'll go into the sport with Shakhtar Donetsk stage on 4 factors. RB Leipzig can be trailing on three, whereas Actual Madrid can be approach out in entrance with 12 factors.
Once more, a win is a should underneath the lights at Celtic Park. Having drawn with the Ukrainian champions in Krakow whereas passing up numerous probabilities for a winner, the Parkhead followers might be assured of securing an important three factors and taking their tally to seven.
At this stage the defending European champions Actual would have certified for the final 16, however Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to take his foot off the fuel after they journey to Leipzig. Parkhead followers might be hoping that it is one other comfy evening for Actual they usually take their group stage tally to fifteen.
Matchday Six
With again to again Champions League wins from each Celtic and Actual Madrid, the strain can be off on the Bernabeu. Neither facet would want any extra factors with the Scottish champions on 7, whereas the La Liga facet sit on 15 going into the sport.
There's a situation the place Shakhtar may end stage on factors with Celtic ought to they beat Leipzig and the Scottish champions are defeated by Actual. If Ange Postecoglou's males win on matchday 5 will probably be a non-factor.
When groups are stage on factors, the group is then determined in head-to-head matches amongst tied groups and the strain can be off within the Spanish capital. RB Leipzig can be on three and unable to catch the Hoops.
It is a acquainted situation for Celtic followers, who did their work within the group stage again in 2007 earlier than a ultimate day celebration in Milan. Benfica could not catch Gordon Strachan's males and it was get together time in Italy, may supporters be on for a repeat in Madrid?
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