Celtic could face Legia Warsaw or St Patrick’s

POLAND or Ireland will be Celtic’s next destination in their bid to qualify for the Champions League group stages if they are able to finish the job against KR Reykjavik at Murrayfield on Tuesday.

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths tussles with Gudmundur Reynir Gunnarsson. Picture: SNS

Ronny Deila’s side won 1-0 in Reykjavik on Tuesday in the first leg of the second qualifying round thanks to a Calum Macgregor strike, and if they can see off their Icelandic visitors they will meet St Partick’s Athletic or Legia Warsaw in the third qualifying round – the draw for which was made in Nyon yesterday.

The Irish side came within seconds of a shock win in Poland this week after Christy Fagan’s first-half goal, but Legia equalised in injury time.

St Pat’s will now try to claim the scalp of their illustrious visitors at Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday and set up a glamour match with Celtic. The third qualifying round games are scheduled to go ahead on 29-30 July and 5-6 August.

The Europa League qualifying draw was also made in Nyon yesterday and Aberdeen were handed a considerable incentive. The Dons, who drew 0-0 with Dutch side FC Groningen at Pitttodrie on Thursday, will face Spain’s Real Sociedad if they can come through a tough return leg.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s other participants St Johnstone will play Zestafoni of Georgia or Spartak Trnava of Slovakia should they get past Luzern following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Switzerland. If Motherwell come through their second-round encounter with Icelanders Stjarnan – the first leg of which finished 2-2 in Scotland – they will take on Nomme Kalju of Estonia or Lech Poznan of Poland.

Hull are facing a likely trip to AS Trencin of Slovakia in their Europa League bow. If League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo complete the job against Rosenborg after their shock 2-1 win in Norway, they will face Turkey’s Kardemir Karabukspor.