Another season without Champions League Football after we witnessed a collapse in Austria against Lask. Celtic were 3-0 up from the first leg after taking their chances at Celtic Park although nobody thought the tie was over when we we left the stadium after celebrating the win.
In Austria it all started so well when Celtic captain Callum McGregor opened the scoring on the night. 1-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate. We were starting to believe and dream of dining at European Football’s top table once again.
The wheels then dramatically fell off the bus and the Celtic players collapsed in dramatic fashion. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill looked in shock when he spoke to the media after the game. Maybe the lowest point in his Celtic managerial career in Europe?
Callum McGregor was left to do his annual apology to the Celtic Support live on TV. Celtic fans have been here before too many times. Chris Sutton took to social media “Fail to Prepare – Prepare to Fail”. The Celtic board unshaken by the shame of another humiliation in the Champions League.
The outcome is Celtic drop into the Europa League. Benfica away day is about as glamourous as it gets this month on the road following the Bhoys.
Portugal is on the away day list again in November when Celtic travel to play Torreense with many Celtic fans staying in Lisbon and travelling to the game on supporter club buses.
Celtic fans will also travel to Cyprus for the Omonia game in December before our away days finish in Belgium in January against Union Saint-Gilloise game
Celtic Park welcomed Ferencvaros from Hungry who we played under Ange Postecoglou in the same tournament. A 3-1 home defeat added to the misery of the defeat to the rangers at Ibrox which ended our league cup at the quarter final stages.
La Liga side Celta Vigo are next up at home and they bring happy memories of the run to Seville when John Hartson scored against them to secure safe passage for Celtic on the road to the UEFA Cup final.
Turkish side Besiktas visit in November and the home games wrap up in January against French team Marseille.
The Europa League also brings Sunday football which does not suit everyone. We have enough away games moved to Sunday for TV and now Thursday night football means that some more games will now be moved to Sunday.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
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