Celtic’s fixtures for the upcoming UEFA Youth League have been confirmed.
Much like the Champions League, the Youth League is taking up a brand-new format for the 2024/25 season and Celtic will enter an under-19s team into the competition.
The youngsters begin in the 'UEFA Champions League path', where a 36-team league table is in place.
There, the Hoops will play six games – three at home and as many away. Their opponents are the under-19 sides of the senior team’s first six opponents in the Champions League proper.
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This means Stephen McManus’ team kick off their campaign with a home tie against Slovan Bratislava next Wednesday.
They then travel to Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta before hosting RB Leipzig and Club Brugge back-to-back. Their challenging run of fixtures ends with an away tie against Dinamo Zagreb in December.
If the young Celts manage to finish in the top 22 of their 36-team league table, they qualify for the last 32 of the UEFA Youth League, where they will be joined by 10 sides from the ‘Domestic Champions Path’.
Their home matches are being held at Queen’s Park’s City Stadium (formerly Lesser Hampden), with all kick-offs in the afternoon.
Much like the senior team, Celtic’s under-19s will be hoping the new format can play to their advantage this year.
The youngsters finished bottom of their group last term yet will fancy their chances of finishing in the top 22 of the brand-new league phase.
