Celtic are currently in the midst of one of their greatest-ever seasons. Manager Brendan Rodgers has already led the club to a League Cup victory against their archrivals at Hampden and amassed an almighty 15-point league lead title race. But it has been their performances in Europe that have truly captured the eye.
The Champions League continues to captivate football fans across the globe, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. The competition’s continued growth resulted in a highly scrutinized expansion, introducing more teams, an elongated initial league phase, and an extra knockout round in a bid to cash in. But the skyrocketing popularity of the UEFA Champions League hasn’t gone unnoticed by industries beyond football, especially online casinos.
Platforms like Ignition are leveraging the tournament’s widespread appeal by introducing football-themed slot games in a casino online aimed at fans eager to immerse themselves in the sport even off the pitch.
Games like Zombie FC and Hat Trick Hero blend football’s thrill with interactive gaming excitement, creating experiences designed to capture the attention of both casual players and die-hard supporters. Such experiences bring supporters closer to the beautiful game than ever before, but Celtic fans specifically would happily trade the Zombie FC jackpot for a spot in the Champions League final in Munich.
Of course, that is highly unlikely, but here are three things that every Bhoys supporter can look forward to seeing over the next few months.
Victory Against Young Boys to Secure Progression
With just two league stage games remaining, the Glasgow outfit is well-positioned to qualify for the knockout round for the first time in 12 years. They currently sit in 21st place, two points clear of the elimination zone, and their next clash against Young Boys at Parkhead is certainly winnable. The Swiss side are currently rock bottom of the standings and have lost all six of their Champions League games.
Should the Celts pile on the misery for the Super League club, then a spot in the next round should be theirs. And if prior victories against the likes of RB Leipzig and Slovan Bratislava are anything to go by, Rodgers’ side should certainly be up for the task. The potential three points should all but guarantee progression, allowing the Boys in Green to head south of the border for a mouthwatering clash without any huge consequences on the line.
Trip to Villa Park
Standing between Celtic and higher seeding for the knockout round is Premier League side Aston Villa. Spanish manager Unai Emery has transformed the Villains from relegation candidates to a genuine European force throughout his two years in charge, and they too look set to progress, perhaps even directly to the round of 16. With a huge Irish Catholic contingent living in Birmingham, expect Celtic to have a huge backing in the West Midlands.
The Scottish champions have a reasonable record against English clubs in recent times. They managed to avoid defeat in their two group stage clashes with powerhouse Manchester City back in 2016, and who can forget the 3-2 victory at home to Manchester United a decade before that thanks to Shinsuke Nakamura’s last-gasp 30-yard free kick?
Victory at Villa Park will be by no means a given, but heading back north of the border with a point should certainly be possible. The Villains have slowed down somewhat in recent weeks following a blistering start to the season, and home draws against Brighton as well as a 3-0 reverse away at Newcastle should give Celtic plenty of hope.
The key battles in the tie will likely come down to Celtic’s midfield. Players like Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate will need to control the tempo and provide stability against Villa’s industrious approach. Furthermore, the goalscoring prowess of Celtic’s frontline, led by Kyogo Furuhashi, will need to shine through once more.
Winnable Knockout Round Fixture
Celtic haven’t made it past the initial knockout round of the Champions League since the tournament was rebranded in the early 1990s. This year, however, they will certainly have an opportunity.
The current occupiers of the loftier positions within the 9th-24th place bracket are heavyweights such as Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund.
But with French Ligue 1 outfits Brest and Lille directly above those three, there’s a very real chance that Celtic could meet one of those two in the next round, providing them with a winnable two-legged tie.
Also lurking around is a trio of Serie A teams, namely Atalanta, AC Milan, and Juventus. Celtic have already managed to secure a goalless draw on the road at the former of that trio, while the latter duo are hardly the forces they once were. Progressing past them and into the last 16 will be by no means an easy feat, but it’s a task that is certainly achievable for Rodgers’ men.
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