Celtic are missing out on the Champions League drama, and they only have themselves to blame.
The ones who are suffering are the Celtic supporters, who have had to watch Europe’s elite competition from afar this season.
This time last season, Celtic were at Villa Park, with their play-off spot already booked, and watching Unai Emery’s side pick up three points to secure a last-dash top-eight finish.
But nothing will probably come close to what unfolded in Lisbon on Wednesday night.
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a last-minute goal to help Jose Mourinho’s side beat Real Madrid, and as a result, secure a play-off spot.
They were winning 3-2 and needed a fourth goal to knock Marseille out on goal difference.
Months after losing to Kairat Almaty, how do you feel about Celtic’s current situation?
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Celtic example used as Champions League’s new format is praised
Following the drama of the Champions League, talkSPORT discussed the action, and Gabby Agbonlahor brought Celtic’s name into the equation.
Last season, UEFA revamped its format, throwing away the old group stages and bringing in a 36-team league phase, with the top eight securing automatic qualification, teams from ninth to 24 going into a play-off, and the rest getting eliminated.
Celtic beat Young Boys in the penultimate game to book their play-off ticket, before a heartbreaking loss to Bayern Munich in the play-offs.
Agbonlahor expressed how much he ‘loves’ the new format, and how it has helped clubs such as Celtic because it has evened the playing field.
Ally McCoist even mentioned the Bayern Munich loss, and how the champions of Scotland were ‘very, very unlucky’ to get booted out the way they did.
“What I love about it, the old format, the games would finish in mid-December,” said Agbonlahor. “And the knockout stages wouldn’t start until mid-February.
“So, you would go a long wait until any more Champions League football. Now we are seeing Champions League football all the way through – all through the season, you have big games.
“The play-offs, look at the teams we are talking about here. We are talking about Real Madrid in the play-offs. PSG. You have some big ties. Inter. Newcastle. Juventus. Atletico Madrid. Leverkusen. Dortmund. Galatasaray. Big games all the way through.
“So, for me, I love this new format. In the old format, you saw some poor games – Celtic last season. Celtic would never get out of the group, but you have a chance, haven’t you?”
McCoist: “Particularly the performance they had in Munich. They were very, very unlucky.”
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