CELTIC will face Bayer Leverkusen, Real Betis and Ferencvaros in their Europa League group section.
Today’s ballot in Istanbul paired the Hoops in Group G with Jeremie Frimpong’s Bundesliga outfit he joined in a £11.5million switch in January.
And it will also give the Parkhead side a quickfire revenge opportunity on the Hungarians of Ferencvaros who shocked the team in the Champions League qualifiers when they won 2-1 in Glasgow.
A game against the Spaniards away from home will evoke memories of Seville in 2003 when Martin O’Neill’s side reached the UEFA Cup Final before unfortunately losing to Jose Mourinho’s Porto 3-2 in extra-time. Betis are managed by former Manchester City and West Ham boss Manuel Pelligrini.
LOOKING FORWARD…Ange Postecoglou faces another Euro challenge at Celtic.
The Hoops booked their place in the group stage of the competition with a 3-2 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar following last night’s nervy 2-1 loss in the Netherlands, but, thankfully, the 2-0 win in Glasgow provided the necessary safety net.
The first matchday of the group stage begins on September 16.
It’s not quite Champions League fortunes, but is still a welcome addition to the finances after last season lockdown with the players performing in empty stadiums.
With the bonuses up for grabs plus gate receipts from what will almost certainly be three Parkhead sell-outs, Celtic are guaranteed a financial injection between now and the end of the section games where the hope will be to qualify after last term’s disappointment of only one win from six games and completing the programme rock-bottom.
That was then and this is now. Ange Postecoglou side produced a true grit performance in Alkmaar to reach this stage and the Greek-Australian gaffer has been building steadily since he came in the front door at Celtic Park.
Group stage draw in full:
GROUP A
Lyon, Rangers, Sparta Prague, Brondby
GROUP B
Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Real Sociedad, Sturm Graz
GROUP C
Napoli, Leicester City, Spartak Moscow, Legia Warsaw
GROUP D
Olympiacos, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Royal Antwerp
GROUP E
Lazio, Lokomotiv Moscow, Marseille, Galatasaray
GROUP F
Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Ludogorets, Midtjylland
GROUP G
Bayer Leverkusen, CELTIC, Real Betis, Ferencvaros
GROUP H
Dinamo Zagreb, Genk, West Ham, Rapid Vienna
