Results that would guarantee Celtic Champions League progress with win over Young Boys

Celtic are preparing for their penultimate Champions League game knowing they can put one foot in the next round with a win over Young Boys.

If a combination of results go their way on Tuesday then they will be in a position where they will be guaranteed progress with a victory on Wednesday.

The Hoops could kick-off against the Swiss champions knowing three points would secure a spot in the playoff round if two of the teams directly below them lose a day earlier.

There are several permutations that would see Celtic qualify with a game to spare if they beat Young Boys.

The most straight-forward of those would be if any two of PSV, Stuttgart or Club Brugge lose on Tuesday.

However, failing that they could still be guaranteed a spot by full-time on Wednesday if they win while Dinamo Zagreb and either PSG or Man City, who play each other, lose.

The top eight teams in the league will qualify directly to the last-16 while the sides who finish ninth to 24th will take part in a playoff round.

Celtic are currently on nine points and only two teams outside the top 24 are currently in a position where they could catch Brendan Rodgers’ men if they move to 12 on Wednesday.

Tuesday games for Celtic fans to keep an eye on

Crvena Zvezda v PSV Eindhoven (Celtic want Crvena Zvezda win)

PSV are currently one point behind Celtic, so defeat for them combined with a Hoops victory would leave the Dutch side four points behind going into the last game and unable to catch the Scottish champions.

Slovan Bratislava v VFB Stuttgart (Celtic want Bratislava win or draw)

Likewise if Slovan Bratislava pick up their first points of the campaign at home to Stuttgart, that will leave the German side unable to catch Celtic if they beat Young Boys.

Club Brugge v Juventus (Celtic want Juventus win)

If Juventus beat Club Brugge it will leave the Belgian side on ten points, two less than the 12 Celtic will have if they beat Young Boys.

But while Brugge would still be able to get to 13 with a win in the last game, they are up against Manchester City who are also currently trailing Celtic – meaning it would be impossible for both of those teams to get enough points to leapfrog the Hoops.

Benfica v Barcelona (Celtic want Barcelona win)

However, even if Juventus lose to Club Brugge on Tuesday, then that result would still suit Celtic if it was combined with a Barcelona victory over Benfica.

That combination would leave Juventus on 11 and Benfica on ten with both those sides playing against each other in the final game so therefore one of them would be guaranteed to finish with less than the 12 points Celtic would have with a win on Wednesday.

Wednesday games for Celtic fans to keep an eye on

Even if all of Tuesday’s results go against them, the Parkhead side could still be celebrating progress by the final whistle on Wednesday.

Celtic v Young Boys

Of course the most important game for Hoops fans this week is the Celtic v Young Boys game in Glasgow on Wednesday.

First and foremost Celtic will need to beat the Swiss side to avoid the likelihood of having to take something from Villa Park or hope several results go their way in the final round of fixtures.

Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb (Celtic want Arsenal win)

Elsewhere a win for Arsenal over Zagreb in London would leave the Croatian side unable to match the 12-points Celtic will be on if they do the business in Glasgow.

PSG v Man City (Celtic want defeat for either side)

Surprisingly both of the European heavyweights are currently behind Celtic in the table with eight (Man City) and seven (PSG) points respectively.

A win for either of them would leave the other unable to reach the 12-point mark while a draw would mean PSG could no longer go ahead of Celtic if they beat Young Boys.