Draw to decide Celtic fate
Motherwell will also find out opposition in Friday's draw
Last Updated: July 19, 2012 3:32pm
Neil Lennon: Will learn Celtic's fate in Friday's UEFA Champions League draw
Sky Bet
-
Football Betting
Celtic will discover their opponents for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on Friday, with Motherwell also in the draw.
The Scottish Premier League champions have been seeded for the draw and Neil Lennon's men know they will face one of 10 teams - with the second-round fixtures still to be concluded.
With Motherwell being unseeded they will face a stern test from one of Dynamo Kiev, Fenerbache, FC Copenhagen or Panathinaikos.
Celtic's draw looks decidedly easier in the domestic champions section.
They could face Ulisses, FC Sheriff, Molde, Ventspils, HJK Helsinki, KR, AEL Limassol, Linfield, Neftci PFK or FC Zestafoni.
With Celtic's Old Firm rivals Rangers being entered into the Third Division after the newco club had their SPL application rejected, many feel a run in the Champions League is required to give the Celtic Park faithful big fixtures this season.
Celtic face Ajax in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, with matches against Inter Milan and Real Madrid also lined up.
Preparation
Assistant manager Johan Mjallby believes their fixture against the Dutch giants will be good preparation for whoever their Champions League opposition prove to be.
"We're all looking forward to Ajax right now because that's going to be a stern test for us," he told Celtic's official website.
"They are a quality side and it is games like this one against Ajax that we need to play to see where we are really before we venture into European football and try to qualify for the Champions League."
Motherwell reached this stage due to the liquidation of the oldco Rangers and will be huge underdogs no matter which opponent they are drawn against on Friday.
