Celtic face long odds to make Champions League knockout phase

CELTIC face an uphill task to qualify for the knockout phase of this season’s Champions League from a group containing Benfica, Barcelona and Spartak Moscow, according to bookmakers William Hill.

They face Benfica at Celtic Park tonight but are odds-on at 1-2 with Hills to gain five points or fewer in the group and it is 6-4 that they garner six or more points. It is also odds-on that Celtic score seven or fewer goals at 2-5 and 8-13 that they finish bottom of the Group G table, 7-4 for third, 5-2 for second and 25-1 for first.

“It could be difficult for the Scottish champions although home form is imperative,” said William Hill spokesman Mark Young.