SNS GroupCeltic have been drawn to face Bayern Munich in the play-off round of the Champions League.
The Scottish champions were guaranteed big-name opposition after finishing 21st in the League Phase table, and their fate was confirmed at UEFA’s draw on Friday.
Brendan Rodgers and his side will now test themselves against elite opposition after coming through a tough set of matches in the new-look competition.
Celtic will host the first leg at Parkhead on February 11/12 with the return leg in Munich on February 18/19. The winner of the tie will go on to play Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid.
However, the club advised fans on Friday that they may not be permitted to have any supporters at the away leg in Munich. UEFA sanctioned Celtic last year after supporters used pyrotechnics during the match against Borussia Dortmund. In addition to a fine, the club was given a one-match away fan ban, suspended for two years.
Bayern came through an eventful group stage to finish in 11th place after recording some thumping wins and suffering surprising setbacks.
The Bundesliga leaders began with a stunning 9-2 home win over Dinamo Zagreb but followed that up with a pair of defeats on the road, losing 1-0 at Aston Villa and 4-1 to Barcelona.
Vincent Kompany’s team then got back to winning ways with 1-0 home wins over Benfica and PSG, then a 5-1 away victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
With a place in the top eight seemingly in their grasp, the side then lost 3-0 to Feyenoord in Rotterdam and then climbed the table again with a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava in the final League Phase match.
A Celtic statement on Friday revealed that the club has been charged for the use of pyrotechnics in the Villa game and it now looks likely that the team will not be allowed any away backing in the play-off. The club has warned supporters to keep that in mind when considering arranging travel.
Celtic began their Champions League campaign with an impressive 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava but suffered a 7-1 reverse to last season’s finalists Borussia Dortmund on the second matchday.
Brendan Rodgers’ side then drew 0-0 with Atalanta in Bergamo and followed that with a 3-1 home win over Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Draws at home to Club Brugge and away to Dinamo Zagreb inched the team closer to qualification and a place in the knockout rounds was secured with a 1-0 win over Young Boys at Celtic Park.
The team then finished their League Phase campaign with a dramatic 4-2 defeat against Aston Villa in Birmingham.
Speaking after that match, Celtic boss Rodgers said that the team would look to compete against whoever they were drawn to face.
It’s a great reward for the team and the club and the work they’ve done but whoever we play they’re clearly top-level teams,” the manager said.
“We went to Atalanta and kept a clean sheet and came here tonight [to Villa] and were in the game.
“We know it’s Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round which will be a huge challenge but we’re building confidence at this level and showing we’re a team who can work well and make it difficult for the top teams.”
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