Celtic kick off their 2024-25 Champions League campaign on September 18 with their opening game of the new format against Slovakia top-flight outfit Slovan Bratislava.
Trips to Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta follow afterwards in October, and Chris Sutton believes the Hoops must win their first game of the elite European competition if they are to go far this season.
Celtic last progressed to the knock out stages of the Champions League in 2012-13, but the new league phase format of the competition could give them an opportunity of still being in Europe after Christmas, and Sutton believes they have a realistic chance of advancing to the round of 16 after noticing the favourable draw they got.
The Bhoys will also host RB Leipzig, Club Brugge and Young Boys at home, with further trips to Dinamo Zagreb and Aston Villa.
“So, with the pieces in place, the pressure is on Rodgers and his players now to deliver,” Sutton told the Daily Record.
“No-one is silly enough to suggest that there are easy games in the elite competition of Europe. Quite simply, there’s no such thing. But I don’t think anyone could argue with me if I say the draw has been kind to Celtic.
“It has offered some winnable opportunities and none more so than their opening fixture. Slovan Bratislava at home is a perfect game to start and it is also absolutely huge. It’s triumph or disaster.
“Get the job done, you are off and running and can approach the next seven games with real optimism and excitement. Failure to win that and, straight away, with away matches to follow immediately against last season’s Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Europa League winners Atalanta, you could be staring down the barrel of a bleak campaign.”
The top eight clubs at the end of the 36-team league phase will qualify automatically for the knockout phase and receive a bye to the round of 16, while the teams that finish in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged first round play-off to secure their path to the round of 16.
Clubs that ranked 9th-16th will be seeded, hosting the second leg at home, with teams ranked 17th to 24th hosting the first leg.
The winners after both legs will join the top eight, who host the second leg at home, in the round of 16.
Clubs that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated from all European competitions for the season, and Celtic have to ensure they do not finish in the bottom 12 after their eight games.
