Celtic’s road to the Champions League groups has been mapped out, and it is as punishing as it gets.
Brendan Rodgers’ men must overcome Kazakh outfit Kairat Almaty in the play-off, a tie that demands not only quality but also endurance.
Kairat squeezed past Slovan Bratislava in the third round, winning on penalties after the tie finished level.
That sets up a daunting second leg in Almaty, a 12-hour haul into testing heat and time zones, all just days before Celtic cross Glasgow for the season’s first derby at Ibrox.
The first clash is at Celtic Park on Wednesday, 20 August, before the decisive return in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, 26 August.
Less than five days later, Rodgers’ side face Rangers, a run that could shape both European and domestic hopes before September even arrives.
Such scheduling is a nightmare. Celtic have long known the toll of travelling east for Europe, where fatigue lingers in legs and minds.
The situation sharpens worries over squad depth, with reinforcements still slow to arrive this summer. Missing out on the Champions League proper is unthinkable given the financial stakes and prestige, but the derby’s shadow makes rotation and careful planning essential.
Still, history gives Celtic hope. They have lost just once in ten home play-off ties at Celtic Park and are unbeaten against Kazakh opposition, including a famous 5-0 victory over Astana in 2017.
For Rodgers, the message is simple: build the platform in Glasgow, then survive Almaty.
Anything less, and Celtic risk being dragged into a nightmare journey with everything on the line.