CELTIC’S players – at least those not on international duty - finally have the chance to get some well-earned rest after they ended a marathon season by securing the double Treble.
Brendan Rodgers’ side began competitive action all the way back in July 2017, but face an even longer slog in 2018/19 as they enter Champions League qualifying a round earlier.
The Hoops will be seeded for the first qualifying round on 19 June, when they will also find out their potential second qualifying round opponents.
Read more: 50 stories that made the season: Play-off brawls, stadium debates and madcap Mexicans
But who could they face in the treacherous early rounds of European club football’s most lucrative competition?
First qualifying round
Match dates: First leg 10/11 July, second leg 17/18 July
Celtic are seeded
There are 16 potential opponents for the Bhoys in the opening round, including the yet-to-be-decided winner of the preliminary round.
The teams with the highest coefficient points are Shkendija of Macedonia, Luxembourg’s Dudelange and Spartak Trnava from Slovakia, but Northern Ireland’s Crusaders and Cork City from the Republic could offer a shorter away trip for the Scottish champions.
Lincoln Red Imps, who famously defeated the Bhoys in Brendan Rodgers’ first game in charge, could be drawn again if they make it through the preliminary rounds.
- Shkendija
- Dudelange
- Spartak Trnava
- Valletta
- Vikingur Gota
- Crusaders
- Olimpija Ljubljana
- Alashkert
- Sutjeska Niksic
- Suduva Marijampole
- Spartaks Jurmala
- Cork City
- Value
- Flora Tallinn
- Torpedo Kutaisi
- Winner of preliminary round (Lincoln Red Imps, Santa Coloma, La Fiorita or Drita)
Second qualifying round
Match dates: First leg 24/25 July, second leg 31 July/1 August
Celtic would be seeded
The qualifying section splits into a Champions Path and Main Path at this stage, with Celtic going down the former. Losers from this round will drop into the Europa League third qualifying round.
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Only two new unseeded teams will enter the competition as possible opponents for Celtic at this stage; Erik Sviatchenko’s FC Midtjylland and Romanian champions CFR Cluj.
There are some familiar foes among the teams they could draw from the first qualifying round, including last year’s opponents Rosenborg and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, who the Glasgow side faced a year earlier.
- Midtjylland
- CFR Cluj
- Red Star Belgrade*
- Hapoel Be-er Sheva*
- Rosenborg*
- HJK Helsinki*
- The New Saints*
- Videoton*
- Kukesi*
- Zrinjski Mostar*
Third qualifying round
Draw date: 23 July
Match dates: First leg 7/8 August, second leg 14 August
Celtic would be seeded
Continuing down the Champions Path, AEK Athens of Greece will be the only new non-seeded side to enter at this stage.
BATE Borisov and Dinamo Zagreb are among the teams who the Bhoys could draw if they progress from the second round.
Losers from this stage will drop into the Europa League play-off round.
- AEK Athens
- BATE Borisov*
- Dinamo Zagreb*
- Qarabag*
- Sheriff Tiraspol*
- Malmo*
Play-off round
Draw date: 6 August
Match dates: First leg 21/22 August, 28/29 August
Celtic would be seeded
Celtic will be seeded for the final obstacle standing between them and a place in the group stage, but should they fail a group stage spot in the Europa League awaits.
Read more: 50 stories that made the season: Play-off brawls, stadium debates and madcap Mexicans
Being seeded would mean avoiding the likes of Red Bull Salzburg, PSV and Ludogorets Razgrad but some dangerous teams lie in wait.
Young Boys of Switzerland will be fresh as they join at this stage, while
- Young Boys
- Astana*
- Legia Warsaw*
- APOEL*
*Assuming top ranked teams progress from earlier round
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