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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Celtic key Champions League dates including group stage draw and matchday fixture schedule

Celtic will be back in the big time once again this season as they take on Europe's elite in the Champions League.

The Hoops landed direct entry into the tournament proper last season after winning the Scottish Premiership title and after following up that success once again this campaign, they have earned another shot at the top table and the riches that come with it. Over the years the Parkhead side have had to negotiate the qualifying rounds in early pre-season, but last year and this campaign coming they've got the luxury of avoiding all that drama as new boss Brendan Rodgers looks to make his stamp on the big stage with a mark in Europe one of his key targets for his second stint in the dugout.

The competition last season paired Celtic with Real Madrid with the experience proving vital to the current crop in Glasgow's east end. The experiences of last year will be huge as they plot to pick up victories on the biggest stage for club sides and bring back those historic big European nights under the lights at Parkhead. It will be all change in the dug out this time around however with Ange Postecoglou joining Tottenham and Rodgers returning for a second spell in Glasgow. So when does it all begin? Glasgow Live Sport has all the key details you need.

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Champions League group stage draw

This is the big one all the Celtic faithful will be waiting on.

The famous anthem will ring around Parkhead at least three times next season and the Hoops' fate will be discovered in August.

The big draw takes place on August 31. It will contain at least one Scottish side with Rangers looking to join the party as they bid to safely navigate two rounds of qualifying.

Champions League group stage fixture schedule

Four clubs are paired together at this stage and play each other home and away.

The top two in each section will each the last 16 of the competition.

The competition proper kicks off on the midweek of September 19/20.

19/20 September: UEFA Champions League Matchday 1

3/4 October: UEFA Champions League Matchday 2

24/25 October: UEFA Champions League Matchday 3

7/8 November: UEFA Champions League Matchday 4

28/29 November: UEFA Champions League Matchday 5

12/13 December: UEFA Champions League Matchday 6

Knockout rounds

Should Celtic achieve the incredible and qualify for the knockout round they will learn their last 16 fate on December 18.

The two-legged tie takes place across February and March. The first meetings are 14/15 or 21/22 February with the returns 7/8 or 14/15 March with a place in the quarter-final up for grabs.

If they finish third in the group they will drop into the Europa League and compete in the knockout round of this competition.

The draw takes place on the same day as the Champions League and the winner at this stage over a two-legged tie reaches the last 16 of the second tier competition. The eight winners in this round join the eight Europa League sides who finished top of their group.

If the Hoops finish fourth in their Champions League section they will exit Europe altogether before Christmas.

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