Ange Postecoglou and Celtic want another crack at the big time of the Champions League after failing to register a win last time round.
The Aussie's first foray in to Europe's elite competition ended with two points but conjured a spirited performance against Real Madrid at home, with Parkhead fans no doubt still thinking about Callum McGregor cracking the post against Los Blancos. There was Jota in Madrid and Giorgos Giakoumakis in Warsaw but ultimately the Hoops had to settle for no European football past Christmas last year.
Postecoglou has made no secret this is the place he wants his side to compete, and so do the Celtic accountants with the TV money and exposure from the big time allowing the Aussie to go to market. Here Record Sport looks at some of the key dates on the UEFA calendar for Hoops fans to look out for ahead of a massive summer.
Group stage draw and matches
The Hoops have the benefit of going straight in to the Champions League group stage after winning the Scottish Premiership. It's a luxury that was afforded to Postecoglou and Co with fans eager to sit down and watch the draw. Although Real Madrid provided the glamour last season, they will hope for a more favourable draw than the champions and tough opposition in RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.
This names will be put in to the hat on August 31 with no doubt the usual fanfare from the house of European football. That draw will come a few weeks after the resumption of domestic action for the Scottish champions.
The first matchday of Europe's elite competition takes place on September 19/20. Game days 2 and 3 take place in October, with the first on October 3/4 and the second on October 24/25. The business end of the group stage comes in matchday four on November 7/8. That could come days after the Viaplay Cup semi-final should the Hoops make it, before a penultimate fixture on November 28/29.
The final game of the campaign comes on December 12/13 with the Viaplay Cup Final a mere few days later.
Europa League scenario
Should the Hoops drop down to the Europa League, a scenario that found themselves in Postecoglou's first season, they would kickstart their campaign in the knockouts on February 15 or February 22, 2024. Subsequent progression would mean ties in early March and April, normally a time for many derby clashes and the title run-in.
The final of Europe's second biggest competition takes place at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on May 22, a venue that Celtic fans, should they reach the last two as their rivals did in Seville in 2022, would no doubt paint green and white.
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