Despite having played one game less than half of the teams in the Champions League Celtic remain comfortably inside the top 24 that will extend this season’s campaign into February at least.
Going into tonight’s match at home to Club Brugge Celtic are in 18th place with their eyes set on those above rather than the clubs below them in the 32 team table.
Past the halfway stage the new format is beginning to take shape with some so-called bigger clubs really toiling.
RB Leipzig remain pointless after losing 1-0 at home to Inter Milan, now after five matches and can forget about a top eight place with the Play Off places now requiring snookers with nine points unlikely to be good enough.
Paris Saint Germain are another big name toiling, with four points from five matches a win tonight for Celtic over Brugge would put them six points ahead of the French champions with two matches left to play.
40 goals in one night 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/caPWUdMviD
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 26, 2024
Now beyond the halfway stage the competition is really taking shape, Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig has put them in as strong a position as could be imagined and given the players the confidence that has been lacking in previous campaigns.
Most of the clubs immediately behind Celtic are in action tonight but a victory over Brugge would lift Brendan Rodgers’ side above Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan who all won last night.
Read that again!
Before the tournament started nine points was the suggested cut off point for advancing to the Round of 16 Play Off but so far five teams have yet to pick up a single point which has edged the cut-off point up to 10 points or possibly higher.
While attention is on Celtic Park tonight it will be worth keeping an eye on fast improving Dinamo Zagreb who host the hoops in two weeks time.
After losing 9-2 away to Bayern Munich the Croatian champions have enjoyed the trampoline effect, hosting Borussia Dortmunf tonight they are on the same seven points as Celtic.
In January Celtic will host YB Berne who remain pointless after losing 6-1 at home to Atalanta last night.
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