By Sean Docherty

Celtic are the most successful team in Scotland winning 12 of the last 13 league titles, as well as winning a quadruple treble in that timeframe. Currently running away with the league and on course for yet another treble, there isn’t much room for improvement domestically for the Hoops.

However, Celtic in Europe is a completely different story. Failing to go on another European run since the early 2000’s, European success has been Celtic’s White Whale for many years now. Celtic have participated in European group stages for the past 13 years, reaching the knockouts on seven occasions and failing to get past the first round every time. In recent times, Celtic have had to watch bitter rivals Rangers consistently reach European knockouts as well as reaching the Europa League final in 2022.

In their history, Celtic have reached three European finals. Celtic’s first final was in 1967 where they Defeated Italian Giants Inter Milan 2-1 - becoming the first British team to win a European trophy. Celtic’s second final came three years later where they would lose to Dutch side Feyenoord. Celtic’s last appearance in a European final came in 2003. An estimated 80,000 Celtic fans travelled to Seville for the final where they would fall short at the final hurdle to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

With the new formation of the Champions League this year, it has given many teams that have struggled in the previous group stages a chance to be more competitive with Celtic being one of those teams. Winning three, drawing three and losing two, Celtic have had their best champions league campaign in years.

Celtic claimed their largest Champions League victory along the way with a 5-1 win against Slovakian Champions League debutants Slovan Bratislava. However, the following game was 7-1 thrashing from the previous season's finalists Borussia Dortmund, which made many think things wouldn’t change for Celtic in Europe. Celtic’s European form in subsequent games kicked in as they earned a 0-0 draw at Europa League champions Atalanta and a home win against German Giants RB Leipzig.

Liam Scales celebrating against Slovan Bratislava (Rob Casey-SNS GRoup via Gettyimages)

Celtic qualified for the Champions League Playoffs, in which they were drawn against a third German Side and six-time winners Bayern Munich. With the first leg ending in a 2-1 loss for Celtic they go to the Allianz remaining alive in the tie thanks to a Daizen Maeda goal. The Bhoys travel to Munich next week for their second-leg clash with it being all to play for.

For Celtic the next step is clear, reach the round of 16 of the Champions League for the first time in 13 years and potentially reach a first Champions League Quarter final in their history. With a young well-rounded team and good transfers in the previous two windows there is no reason Celtic shouldn’t be considered a contender to reach the next stages of the competition. Both Celtic and their fans will be hoping that they will be ‘reliving 67’ in the coming years.

Celtic's European Revival