The 2 teams Celtic could face in Champions League knockout playoff as Bayern Munich and one other superpower lie in wait
There's knockout European football to look forward to at Celtic Park once again - and the Hoops will face a huge challenge in the playoffs against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Brendan Rodgers' men have looked totally at home in the radically revamped Champions League and, after a painful 12 year wait, a packed Parkhead will finally be rocking for a knockout match once again when either the Spanish or German giants come to town - with the home match due to be played on either Tuesday February 11 or Wednesday 12, and second legs a week later.
Fans will have to wait until the draw on January 31 to know for definite who they will face, but will be brimming with confidence for the home leg at least - with the Hoops enjoying some nights to remember already so far in the competition. A 5-1 rout against Slovan Bratislava on the opening matchday was followed by a Nicolas Kuhn inspired 3-1 win against RB Leipzig. A draw with Club Brugge was a blot on the copybook, before Celtic eventually got the better of Young Boys in Kyogo's last game - with the Japanese ace having a hat-trick of goals chalked off, before a crazy 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa rounded the league phase out.
Having had to wait all month for transfer business, returning star Jota will be eligible for the playoff match - and boss Rodgers will be able to register two more players for his Champions League squad, leaving space for further reinforcements before the crunch match.
Last time Celtic made it beyond the group stages in the tournament Italian giants Juventus played Parkhead party-poopers, winning 3-0 against Neil Lennon's Hoops - before triumphing 2-0 in Turin. That was the season where Tony Watt netted his famous winner against a star-studded Barcelona - but it's now time for new heroes to make their mark on club football's biggest stage.
