CELTIC'S hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages may have been extinguished on Tuesday, but their performance in the defeat to Bayern Munich has sparked hopes that they could make an impact in the Europa League after Christmas.
Brendan Rodgers' side are currently on course to drop into Europe's second major club competition as the third-placed team in Group B.
Some big hitters are currently set to drop into the Europa League with the Hoops, including two recent Champions League finalists.
Head to head record separates group places in the Champions League ahead of goal difference, with goals scored then being the deciding factor if two teams remain level.
So who could be joining the Hoops in the last 32 draw as things stand?
Group A
CSKA Moscow kept hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages alive on Tuesday after coming back from behind to secure an impressive away win against FC Basel, their rivals for second place.
As it stands the Swiss side remain in the driving seat with a better head to head record and goal difference than the Russians. Having said that, CSKA arguably have the more favourable fixtures in the remaining two rounds, taking on pointless Benfica at home next before finishing with an away trip to a Manchester United side that looks likely to have already qualified as group winners.
Basel host Jose Mourinho’s men at St Jakob Park in their next game before travelling to Lisbon in December.
Manchester United 12pts
P4 W4 D0 L0 F10 A1 GD+9
Basel 6pts
P4 W2 D0 L2 F8 A5 GD+3
CSKA Moscow 6pts
P4 W2 D0 L2 F5 A8 GD-3
Benfica 0pts
P4 W0 D0 L4 F1 A10 GD-9
Group B
With two games remaining, the Hoops are in a good position to secure European football after Christmas. Brendan Rodgers’ side have a three-point lead over Anderlecht and face a trip to Paris next, while the Belgians host Bayern Munich.
Should Celtic and Anderlecht both lose their next games, the Belgian champions would need to better the Bhoys’ 3-0 win in Brussels when they travel to Parkhead on 5 December in order to oust them in third place.
Paris Saint-Germain 12pts
P4 W4 D0 L0 F17 A0 GD+17
Bayern Munich 9pts
P4 W3 D0 L1 F8 A4 GD+4
Celtic 3pts
P4 W1 D0 L3 F4 A10 GD-6
Anderlecht 0pts
P4 W0 D0 L4 F0 A15 GD-15
Group C
Atletico Madrid are set for a shock early exit after reaching two Champions League finals in the last four years.
Diego Simeone’s side are struggling after failing to beat new boys Qarabag in either of their two meetings, coming away with a draw on both occasions.
The team from Azerbaijan could still beat Atleti to the Europa League spot, as they sit just one point behind the La Liga giants. Qarabag host Chelsea next before a final day trip to Roma, while the Spanish side take on the Italians at home before travelling to Stamford Bridge on the final day.
Roma 8pts
P4 W2 D2 L0 F8 A4 GD+4
Chelsea 7pts
P4 W2 D1 L1 F11 A7 GD+4
Atletico Madrid 3pts
P4 W0 D3 L1 F2 A3 GD-1
Qarabag 2pts
P4 W0 D2 L2 F2 A9 GD-7
Group D
Sporting remain in contention to draw level with Juventus in second place, something they will achieve if they beat Olympiacos at home next time out and the Old Lady are defeated by Barcelona.
However, Juve’s better head to head record over the Portuguese side means they are in a strong position to qualify, while Olympiacos will need to build on their goalless draw against Barcelona with a win away in Lisbon in three weeks if they are to have any hope of staying in Europe.
Barcelona 10pts
P4 W3 D1 L0 F7 A1 GD+6
Juventus 7pts
P4 W2 D1 L1 F5 A5 GD0
Sporting CP 4pts
P4 W1 D1 L2 F5 A6 GD-1
Olympiacos 1pt
P4 W0 D1 L3 F3 A8 GD-5
Group E
Group E is too close to call, with Spartak Moscow currently occupying third place but sitting just three points off leaders Liverpool.
The Russians take on struggling Maribor at home next, before completing their campaign with a trip to Anfield. Liverpool’s journey to Spain in three weeks’ time looks to be a crucial moment in the outcome of the group.
Liverpool 8pts
P4 W2 D2 L0 F13 A3 GD+10
Sevilla 7pts
P4 W2 D1 L1 F8 A8 GD0
Spartak Moscow 5pts
P4 W1 D2 L1 F8 A5 GD+3
Maribor 1pt
P4 W0 D1 L3 F1 A14 GD-13
Group F
After back-to-back defeats to Manchester City, Napoli face a mammoth task to qualify for the knockout rounds. A 2-1 loss in Ukraine on the opening day was a setback and the Italians will now need to beat Mircea Lucescu’s side by a bigger margin next time out as well as beating Feyenoord and relying on a Man City win away to Shakhtar if they are to turn things around.
Feyenoord still aren’t out of the running for a Europa League spot, but face a trip to on-form City next in a test of a shaky defence that has already shipped 12 goals in four games.
Manchester City 12pts
P4 W4 D0 L0 F12 A3 GD+9
Shakhtar Donetsk 9pts
P4 W3 D0 L1 F7 A5 GD+2
Napoli 3pts
P4 W1 D0 L3 F7 A9 GD-2
Feyenoord 0pts
P4 W0 D0 L4 F3 A12 GD-9
Group G
In another closely fought group, Besiktas look set to progress while RB Leipzig attempt to close the gap on second-placed Porto. Monaco appear long shots to reach the last 16 but could still leapfrog the Germans into third place by beating them at the Stade Louis II in game week five.
Porto travel to Turkey in their next game before hosting the Ligue 1 side in the final round, while Leipzig welcome Besiktas to the Red Bull Arena in the final clash of a fiercely contested group.
Besiktas 10pts
P4 W3 D1 L0 F8 A3 GD+5
Porto 6pts
P4 W2 D0 L2 F9 A7 GD+2
RB Leipzig 4pts
P4 W1 D1 L2 F5 A8 GD-3
Monaco 2pts
P4 W0 D2 L2 F3 A7 GD-4
Group H
One of the shocks of the group stage has been Dortmund’s appalling form, that has all but guaranteed their exit with two games left to play. The Germans remain in third place on goal difference after being held twice by Cypriots APOEL and will host on-form Spurs before travelling to Madrid in their remaining games.
An impressive win for Spurs over the defending champions at Wembley on Wednesday has put them in the driving seat to win the group and they will secure top spot with a final day win against APOEL regardless of the result against Dortmund.
Tottenham Hotspur 10pts
P4 W3 D1 L0 F10 A3 GD+7
Real Madrid 7pts
P4 W2 D1 L1 F8 A5 GD+3
Borussia Dortmund 2pts
P4 W0 D2 L2 F4 A8 GD-4
APOEL 2pts
P4 W0 D2 L2 F2 A8 GD-6
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