**Champions League Play Off Draws Fri 7th August 11am**

jrodga2k5

jrodga2k5

jrodga2k5

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So we are just about ready for the Champions League group stage but we have one very important round to be completed, the Play Off!

As expected the draw is split into two, for the Champions and for the Runners Up with each draw being seeded. THe draw will take place tomorrow with Sky Sports News showing it from 11am, I suspect the draw programme will begine around 11:30am....anyways onto the seedings.

UEFA Champions League play-offs
Non-champions path

*Seeded*
ARSENAL
Lyon
Sporting Lisbon
Panathinaikos
VFB Stuttgart

*Non Seeded*
Fiorentina
Athletico Madrid
CELTIC
Anderlecht
FC Timişoara

Some really tough Non-seeded teams in the draw especially for Arsenal who could have course be given a tough draw such as Celtic, Madrid or Fiorentina. Of course Arsenal beat Athletico pre-season already however.

Celtic will probably look to take either Lisbon or Panathinaikos however Lyon aren't quite the team they once were and would still be a decent draw.

In all honesty the way the seedings have came out I think Celtic can be fairly happy with the potential opponents as Fiorentina and Athletico being non-seeded is a big plus.

UEFA Champions League play-offs
Champions path

*Seeded*
Olympiacos CFP
FC København (DEN)
PFC Levski Sofia (BUL)
Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)
FC Zürich (SUI)

*Non Seeded*
FC Salzburg (AUS)
APOEL FC (CYP)
FK Ventspils (LVA)
Debreceni VSC (HUN)
FC Sheriff (MDA)

As you can see in this section of the draw there are a few unknown quantities who can make up the numbers should they manage to qualify. This new draw process is a lot fairer to the smaller nations and is a great idea :)

*Seedings Taken from Uefa.com*

So mainly what are the thoughts on the draw from both Arsenal and Celtic fans and just anyone who loves football!
 
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The only team there that I don't think Celtic could beat is Arsenal.

I think Arsenal will be fairly comfortable to progress no matter which team they get.
 
Celtic would have nothing to fear from Arsenal at Celtic Park. We've beaten better teams in the past at home. At the Emirates though, we'd possibly get tore a new one :D

So on that basis, i'll happily take anyone other than Arsenal. Of course now i've said that, we'll land them. :)
 
Not bothered who we get, we should be able to beat any of them and if we can't, we don't deserve to go through.
 
KennyBhoy said:
Celtic would have nothing to fear from Arsenal at Celtic Park. We've beaten better teams in the past at home. At the Emirates though, we'd possibly get tore a new one :D

So on that basis, i'll happily take anyone other than Arsenal. Of course now i've said that, we'll land them. :)
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I think Celtic could take on any of them, Arsenal would be the toughest of the lot but their team isnt the greatest with the loss of a few key players and no great signings i see their team being shaky, a bit like Celtic.

Celtic are looking quite poor at the moment, the team is still gelling under Mowbray. I would like to see a 4-4-2 diamond formation where Nguemo is the defensive midlfielder, Brown the attacking mid with Maloney and Mc Geady on either side of mid. Any team based around that midfield should be solid. Our strikeforce is looking poor against a tough defence especcially Fortune, I would rather we signed Nguemo and got Fortune on loan. Samaras and Mc Donald looks to be the strongest partnership yet, Fortune better get his act together. We need to get shot of that O'Dea character too and Donati put into a backup/reserve position, hes a good passer but doesnt work hard enough for the team.
 
I would suggest there is still a world of difference between a shakey Arsenal and a poor Celtic ;). Can't see us being troubled by anyone.
 
Sporting vs Fiorentina will be a good tie in all honesty

Visionary said:
I have to say this new draw is much better actually gives teams who win their leagues (i.e. champions) in the Champions League.
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Exactly its definitely a good way of doing things :) Allows the money to get around Europe a lot more now.
 
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