Celtic are truly a dominant force in Scottish football. The Hoops have won the Scottish Premiership so many times that journalists and club managers alike have wondered for years whether the team should join the English Premier League, where it would face far tougher opponents. In the meantime, it’s worth taking a look at how the squad has performed in high-level competitions like the UEFA Champions League.
Betting on the EPL
Rumours about Celtic joining the EPL started in 2021 after the collapse of the European Super League. Martin Lipton wrote to The Sun that the EPL was considering inviting Celtic and the Rangers, but that hasn’t yet happened. According to one of Lipton’s sources, some club bosses from south of the border also wanted both Glaswegian sides to join the elite league.
The idea of including the Bhoys in the EPL along with the Rangers is as exciting as it is complicated. But despite the ongoing rumours and negotiations, there is still speculation around betting on Celtic on a Premier League betting website. Still, the Hoops remains one of the strongest forces in the Scottish Premiership, rivaled only by the Rangers, with over 50 titles each. It really feels like the club should have a chance against the English elite teams, but nothing has allowed that to happen yet and talks continue between the English Football Association and the Scottish Football Association.
The UEFA Champions League
Still, the Hoops are having an up-and-down season in the Champions League. The club currently sits at the 20th position in the league phase of the competition. While they keep their eyes on the 24th position to avoid being disqualified, the Hoops know they have solid chances of getting to the playoff phase.
They humiliated the Slovan Bratislava by a 5-1 score, only to get smashed by Dortmund, 7-1. Despite the crushing defeat, the Celtics have also shown some promising results, including a goalless draw with Atalanta that was hard-fought and felt like a victory to fans. Its defence passed the test against Atalanta, surprising those who were waiting for another Dortmund episode. Indeed, people seemed to expect little after that defeat, and most bookmakers foresaw an easy ride for the Spanish side, but the Hoops stood strong.
Unfortunately for fans, Celtic doesn’t seem to assert the same dominance abroad it does at home. Above all, the team must learn how to turn off the tap of conceded goals. During the match against Dortmund, the squad conceded three goals within seven minutes. Last season wasn’t much better either, with losses like 7-0 against Barcelona, 6-0 against Atletico Madrid, and 7-1 against Paris St-Germain.
Best Moments in the Champions League
If the Hoops haven’t conquered the world yet, it isn’t due to the lack of passion from their players and fans. Quite often, the challenge against European clubs feels like a David-vs-Goliath thing. Still, the club has a history of overcoming some of the toughest opponents in the continent, with most of these victories taking place at Parkhead.
Celtic 2, Barcelona 1 (2012)
It wasn’t easy to defeat Barcelona when superstar Lionel Messi was playing there, especially in 2012 when both clubs played for the UEFA Cup and the Argentinian striker was in his prime. Incredibly, the Hoops immobilised not only Messi but the entire Spanish attack and came away with an incredible win.
Celtic 2, AC Milan 1 (2007)
AC Milan was one of the strongest European clubs in the 2007-08 season, led by the striking of Kaka and the goalkeeping of Dida. Despite the stars on the Italian side, the first half was pretty boring, with no scoring. The second half started with a goal by Stephen McManus, but AC Milan responded six minutes later with a penalty. The contest was decided in the final minute when Scott McDonald scored against a defenceless Dida in the 90th minute. The Hoops’ victory helped them advance into the knockout phase of the Champions League, where they would ultimately be eliminated by Arsenal.
Celtic 1, Manchester United 0 (2006)
The Red Devils were also at their prime in the 2006-07 season, winning the EPL and the Champions League. After defeating Celtic, 3-2, in the teams’ first match at home in Old Trafford, no one was expecting a victory at Parkhead. Yet, it came for the home team, which was enough to qualify it for the knockout phase.
Celtic 2, Real Madrid 0 (1980)
The 1960s and 1970s were arguably Celtic’s best decades in European competitions. In one late thrill, the club powered past Real Madrid for the European Cup quarterfinals. Real Madrid had a very strong squad with names like Laurie Cunningham and Vicente del Bosque. Yet, it wasn’t enough to stop George McCluskey and John Doyle from shaking the net. Unfortunately, the second leg was much less favourable for The Hoops, who were defeated 3-0 in Spain, ousting them from the competition.
Celtic 2, Inter Milan 1 (1967)
In 1967, Inter Milan was all that stood between the Bhoys and the club’s first European Cup final. The Italian side was already a two-time champion of the competition by then and came out strong with a goal to go up, 1-0. However, that was a tremendous year for Celtic, led by Jock Stern. The team — which won the Scottish League Cup, the Scottish Cup, and the Glasgow Cup — fought back with two goals to defeat Inter Milan in Portugal.
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