Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has claimed Celtic are benefitting from the new Champions League format – and now have a “great opportunity” to reach the last 16.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have won both of their home fixtures in the competition, with wins over Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig in an incredible Celtic Park atmosphere.
Under this season’s new league phase format, teams play an extra home tie - four instead of three – and Murphy believes Celtic can use their solid home form to give them their best chance in years of progressing to the tournament's next round.
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Speaking to Boylesports, Murphy said: “I think the new Champions League format is helping Celtic because they generally give teams a really good go at home. It’s the away form that has troubled them in recent times.
“Their performances in the last couple of years in the Champions League at home have been good, missing out narrowly against good teams.
“This new format definitely helps them. I thought the resilience to get the point in Atalanta was a credit to the players after the defeat in Dortmund and when you look at some of the home games, there's teams they can beat.
“I think if Celtic qualify and get through into the next round, I think that's a success. I think it really is. Their budget is limited, we know that. Their quality isn't as good as some of the teams they're coming up against.
“So, this is a great opportunity for them and the format's helped them for sure.”
