Gary Lineker is Celtic true believer as he converts Micah Richards with bold Champions League tip
Gary Lineker has tipped Celtic as one of the FAVOURITES to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers ' side got their campaign off to the perfect start with thumping 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava - with Match of the Day host Lineker now expecting big things from the Scottish champions in Europe this season. The top 24 teams finish in the play-off rounds and will have a shot at making the last 16 of the tournament in the revamped format - and the former Leicester City man has been won over by the Hoops' display against the Slovakian champions.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: “Talking of exciting football and brilliant stuff, what about Celtic banging in five? Now you would say they’re going to play against teams they can beat and I would say probably one of the favourites to reach the play-offs this year.
“I’ll remind everyone again because the teams between 8th and 24th will play in the play-off games to join the top eight in the Champions League last 16. So it will be interesting to see.
"I think with this format, let’s wait and see and see how it pans out. The only downside to that is that there’s even more football for the players. But a brilliant win for Celtic and a fantastic start for them.”
And after the comment fellow host Micah Richards appeared to give the Premiership leaders a better chance of getting through than in previous campaigns. The former Manchester City star added: “You know what, everyone talks about this new Champions League format and no disrespect to Celtic, in previous years and recent history, they might have had an opportunity to win a game maybe in one of the later rounds [of the group stage].
“It might not have been one of the greatest games, it was sort of like for pride. Can we finish third and get into the Europa League?”
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