Celtic draw Dundalk or Rosenborg in Champions League qualification

Celtic will face either Dundalk or Rosenborg in the third qualifying round of the Champions League if they can successfully defeat Linfield over two legs.

Celtic fans could face a trip to either Ireland or Norway in the next round. Picture: John Devlin

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Brendan Rodgers’ side begin their road to the Champions League group stages tonight when they take on the Irish league champions in Belfast.

Should they successfully defeat their Northern Irish opponents, they will face either Republic of Ireland champs Dundalk or Norwegian powerhouse Rosenborg in the next round.

Celtic have face both sides before in European competition. They scraped by Dundalk in their only competitive tie, winning 3-2 on aggregate in the second round of the 1979/80 European Cup.

Rosenborg have played Celtic four times in their history. They lost both legs of a two-legged tie in the 1972-73 European Cup, but did enact some revenge 29 years later, defeating Celtic 2-0 in the penultimate round of fixtures in the Champions League group stage, a result which went a long way to sending Martin O’Neill’s side out of the competition. The Hoops had won the first match 1-0 in Glasgow.

Most recently, they suffered a surprise elimination to St Johnstone in Europa League qualifying in 2013.

The two potential opponents drew their second round, first leg encounter 1-1 in Ireland on Wednesday.

The third round ties will be played on 25 or 26 July and 1 or 2 August.