Celtic's Europa League Draw: Tough Ties Await

Celtic has discovered its eight opponents for the Europa League league phase following the draw in Monaco. The Scottish club will face Marseille, Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo, and Besiktas at home in Glasgow.

Their away fixtures are scheduled against Benfica, Union Saint-Gilloise, Omonia, and Torreense. This competition follows a significant Champions League play-off defeat where Celtic surrendered a substantial aggregate lead.

The team aims to recover from this setback and ensure continued European participation beyond the winter. The league phase, featuring 36 teams, concludes on January 28.

A top-24 ranking in the league stage will secure a place in the knockout rounds. Finishing among the top eight teams will grant direct entry into the last 16, bypassing a preliminary knockout tie.

Last season, Celtic reached the Europa League knockout stages, collecting 11 points and finishing 21st. Their campaign was ultimately ended by Stuttgart after a 4-2 aggregate loss in their tie.

Participation in this competition represents a considerable financial shift compared to the Champions League. Celtic earned approximately £14 million from their last Europa League run, a figure substantially lower than the £40.2 million generated from Champions League involvement.