Celtic learn potential Champions League playoff tie foes as path clears

Celtic now have a better idea of who they could potentially face in their Champions League playoff tie next month. Martin O'Neill and his squad are in the midst of their pre-season preparations for the coming campaign but they will also have a European qualifier to manoeuvre. Their two-legged tie takes place on August 18 and 26 which means the club still have time to add to their ranks to join Camilo Duran as the only first-team player to arrive this summer so far. And it has now become slightly clearer who could take on the Scottish champions when the clashes roll around in the middle of next month. At the time of writing, Celtic's possible playoff foes include NK Celje of Slovenia, Norwegian Eliteserien outfit Viking FK, AGF Aarhus of Denmark, LASK Linz of Austria and Omonia Nicosia from Cyprus. Celtic know they will have to be in a better position this season than last when they tumbled out at the final hurdle, losing to Kazakhstan minnows Kairat Almaty on penalties. Complaints followed from raging supporters regarding the board's lack of spending as well as their failure to prepare properly to enter Europe's elite competition.