Can this Celtic team succeed in the Champions League?

After back-to-back 2-1 wins over Italian giants, Lazio, in the Europa League, Celtic fans should be asking themselves whether this team could be a success in the Champions League next season.

As Olivier Ntcham dinked a 95th minute winner over the Lazio goalkeeper, the Scottish champions had recorded back-to-back victories over one of the strongest sides in Italy. And it begs the question whether this current Celtic side could be a success in next season’s UEFA Champions League if they do manage to pass the grueling qualification phase.

This season the Hoops went out of the third qualifying round after an embarrassing 4-3 loss at home to CFR Cluj. But that Celtic side was much weaker than the one Neil Lennon currently has at his disposal. Fraser Forster and Mohamed Elyounoussi had not yet arrived on loan from Southampton while Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli didn’t even feature on that day as they had not yet settled in after their summer arrivals.

The current Celtic starting XI is without question much stronger than the one that got knocked out by CFR Cluj. This has been reiterated by how they completely played the same Cluj team off the park in a 2-0 win in the Europa League last month. But what is even more impressive is their back-to-back comeback wins over Lazio.

Lazio currently sit at fourth in the Serie A table over Champions League sides like Atalanta and Napoli. The only three teams above them at the moment are Juventus, Inter Milan and AS Roma. And coming into Thursday’s game, they were on an impressive three-match winning streak, having beaten Fiorentina, Torino and AC Milan. It is safe to say Simone Inzaghi’s side are no joke.

If these Europa League performances are anything to go by, Neil Lennon’s side could very well make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League given that they do not get handed the toughest group. But that would be a case of counting one’s chickens before they hatch.

A lot will depend on whether Celtic can keep hold of Fraser Forster and Mohamed Elyounoussi next season. The two are on loan at the moment and it will be especially tough to get Elyounoussi at a reasonable price after the form he has showcased in Celtic colours. Another huge task would be keep hold of this unit after the rest of Europe have been alerted following their impressive displays in the Europa League.

Another big factor is the grueling qualification phase that Scottish teams have to go through just to make it to the main phase of the Champions League. One bad day at the office and a season’s worth of work is left in ruins. Exhibit A- this season’s elimination at the hands of a team that we completely demolished just two months later.

Ultimately, nobody can predict the future. But if everything falls into place, watch out for this team in the Champions League next season!