Celtic's expanded Champions League schedule, draw details, key dates, opponent list and info

With the 2023/24 season done and dusted, plenty of Celtic fans are already looking ahead excitedly about what’s ahead for the Bhoys.

As Callum McGregor eloquently noted after beating Rangers on Saturday, there’s no standing still at a club like this one.

The club are already busy planning for the summer transfer window with Brendan Rodgers admitting his phone won’t stop despite earning a holiday break over the next few weeks.

There are big things ahead for the Bhoys. Not only will they be looking to continue their dominance of Scottish football but there’s a new format in the UEFA Champions League to look forward to.

Gone is the traditional group stage, replaced by a ‘League Phase’ of 36 teams in a giant table. The top eight automatically qualify for the last 16, while those placed ninth to 24th enter a play-off to complete the knockout stage line-up. Those finishing 25th to 36th will be knocked out of Europe with no parachute to the Europa League.

Celtic’s Champions League draw

Celtic will now play eight teams in this initial phase of the tournament. That’s made up of two teams from each of UEFA’s four seeding pots – including the one that the Bhoys will land in.

As a result, there’s no real benefit to being a higher seed. From each pot, Celtic will play one team at home and the other away.

The draw for the League Phase takes place on 29th August following the conclusion of this summer’s qualifying gauntlet.

Of the 36 teams to play in the competition, 28 have been confirmed. These are, in order of seeding as it stands:

Pot 1 – Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-German, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Barcelona.

Pot 2 – Bayern Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Arsenal, Club Brugge.

Pot 2 or 3 – Milan.

Pot 3 – Feyenoord, Sporting, PSV Eindhoven.

Pot 3 or 4 – Celtic, Monaco, Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, Stuttgart.

Pot 4 – Sturm Graz, Brest.

Key dates for Celtic in the 2024/25 Champions League

This time, Celtic’s guaranteed run in the tournament will span from mid-September all the way to late January – a change-up from the status quo of finishing up the groups before Christmas.

The full list of dates is:

The knockout round playoffs will take place on 11/12 & 18/19 February 2025 with the last 16 onwards running from March to a May final in Munich.