GLASGOW CELTIC HAVE been handed one of the toughest set of fixtures imaginable following the Champions League group stages draw in Monaco.
The Hoops begin their Champions League group on 18 September with a trip to AC Milan’s home ground, the San Siro. Spanish champions Barcelona will pay a visit to Celtic Park two weeks later.
Celtic beat Barcelona in last season’s competition but their manager Neil Lennon knows the size of task that lies before the Scottish champions.
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“I think it’s the best and the worst draw we could’ve got,” Lennon told Sky Sports News.
“In terms of glamour I don’t think it comes any better than Barca, Milan and Ajax, but in terms of football it doesn’t come any harder.”
Celtic will face back to back games with Ajax, on 22 October and 6 November respectively, before finishing their fixture commitments with a match against AC Milan and home and a trip to the Nou Camp to take on Barcelona.
Elsewhere in the draw, Real Madrid face Juventus, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in Group B. As a result, new Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will come up against the Serie A champions, whom he coached between 1999 and 2001.
“It could have been better, it could have been worse,” said Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueno.
Games against Juventus are always very passionate and we have faced them many times in the past. With (coach Antonio) Conte in the past few years they have improved a lot, therefore they will be a very tough opponent.”
Paris Saint-Germain will expect to advance from Group C, which also contains Benfica, Olympiakos of Greece and Belgian champions Anderlecht, while Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna meet in Group G.
The opening round of group games will be played on 17 and 18 September.
'It doesn't come any harder' admits Lennon after Celtic's tough draw
GLASGOW CELTIC HAVE been handed one of the toughest set of fixtures imaginable following the Champions League group stages draw in Monaco.
The Hoops begin their Champions League group on 18 September with a trip to AC Milan’s home ground, the San Siro. Spanish champions Barcelona will pay a visit to Celtic Park two weeks later.
Celtic beat Barcelona in last season’s competition but their manager Neil Lennon knows the size of task that lies before the Scottish champions.
“I think it’s the best and the worst draw we could’ve got,” Lennon told Sky Sports News.
“In terms of glamour I don’t think it comes any better than Barca, Milan and Ajax, but in terms of football it doesn’t come any harder.”
Celtic will face back to back games with Ajax, on 22 October and 6 November respectively, before finishing their fixture commitments with a match against AC Milan and home and a trip to the Nou Camp to take on Barcelona.
Elsewhere in the draw, Real Madrid face Juventus, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in Group B. As a result, new Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will come up against the Serie A champions, whom he coached between 1999 and 2001.
“It could have been better, it could have been worse,” said Madrid’s Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueno.
Paris Saint-Germain will expect to advance from Group C, which also contains Benfica, Olympiakos of Greece and Belgian champions Anderlecht, while Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna meet in Group G.
The opening round of group games will be played on 17 and 18 September.
© AFP,2013
As it happened: Champions League group stages draw
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