Football
Reuters 6y

Celtic may face Malmo or Vidi for Champions League group-stage place

Celtic could face Malmo or Vidi for a place in the group stage of the Champions League following the playoff draw on Monday.

They must first beat AEK Athens over two legs of the third qualifying round starting on Wednesday in order to advance.

The first leg of the playoffs will be held on Aug. 21-22 with the return legs on Aug. 28-29. Six places are up for grabs in the group stage.

PSV Eindhoven will meet Qarabag or BATE Borisov and either Benfica or Fenerbahce will play PAOK or Spartak Moscow.

Liverpool fans will be keeping a close on Benfica, knowing that that if the Portuguese club fails to reach the group stage, the Reds will move up from Pot 3 to Pot 2 in the main draw, thereby improving their chances of a favourable group.

The six teams beaten in the playoffs will drop into the group stages of the Europa League.

The draw:

Red Star Belgrade/Spartak Trnava vs. Red Bull Salzburg/Shkendija
Qarabag/BATE Borisov vs. PSV Eindhoven
Young Boys vs. Astana/Dinamo Zagreb
Malmo/Vidi vs. Celtic/AEK Athens
Benfica/Fenerbahce vs. PAOK/Spartak Moscow
Standard Liege/Ajax vs. Slavia Prague/Dynamo Kiev

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