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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Celtic get potential Europa League boost but Ferencvaros loss throws up nightmare draw scenario

Celtic could get a bye into the Europa League play-off round following their Champions League elimination.

Neil Lennon 's men were defeated 2-1 by the Hungarian champions on Wednesday night, crashing out in the second qualifying round.

That sees them go into the third qualifying round of the Europa League, but two of the 10 teams will be given a bye.

That will be decided by a random draw, with Celtic, Ludogorets, Legia Warsaw, Sheriff Tiraspol, Cluj, Suduva, Sarajevo, KI, Celje and FC Tirana all hoping to skip a round.

At that point though the Parkhead club could be given a nightmare draw.

As league winners they're in the 'champions path' section, but in the play-off round Celtic's coefficient is irrelevant.

They're guaranteed not to be seeded for the one-off tie, so could face one of the five teams that lost in the Champions League third qualifying round.

That could mean a reunion with Ferencvaros, or a clash with the likes of Young Boys or Red Star Belgrade.

Third qualifying round one-off ties are on September 24 and the play-off showdown is on October 1.

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