CELTIC have waited two seasons for a return to the Champions League. It was therefore fitting that their support were kept hanging on to the very last before their team were eventually plucked from the hat in Monaco.
The quandary for the Parkhead support back in Scotland was whether to be hopeful for a 'Group of Death' and go out in a blaze of glory, or try and navigate their way through an obscure section and hope that a last 16 spot can be nabbed.
In the end, it was more of the former for Brendan Rodgers side who will go up against arguably the biggest club in the world in Barcelona, while also having to contend with the might of English big spenders Manchester City and Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.
WATCH: Ahead of the Game: We react to a tough Champions League draw for Celtic
Here, we have a look at just what Celtic will be up against.
BARCELONA
'Not you again' is probably the first thought of every Celtic fan watching the draw roll in. This will be the sixth time in 13 seasons the two will have met in European competition, including in the group stage of the Champions League on the last two occasions the Scottish title holders qualified.
Most of those fans will be realistic about chances of progression. The last time the two met competitively came in a bruising 6-1 defeat back in December 2013, while Barca beat the Glasgow side 3-1 in Dublin only earlier this month in friendly action. However, the flickering spark of hope that something magical can be kindled will come from that famous night at Parkhead on November 7, 2012 where Tony Watt's calm finish steered Celtic towards a momentous 2-1 win.
The La Liga champions need little introduction. They won their domestic title last term by just one point ahead of Real Madrid and will come into this Champions League campaign desperate to win a trophy they have already claimed five times.
Luis Enrique has been busy in the transfer market this summer and has near enough £80m on key additions to his squad including £30m on Andre Gomes from Valencia and £21m on Lyon centre-half Samuel Umtiti.
Always seen as a glamour tie rather than a viable opportunity to gain points, the sense of familiarity and reality will do little to dampen the anticipation of the Catalan giants coming to town.
MANCHESTER CITY
A side that Celtic have never faced in European competition, much of the story of the English side's campaign will revolve around manager Pep Guardiola. Now more than ever.
The 45-year-old was brought in to take City to the next level domestically but, perhaps more crucially, elevate them to a higher level on the continent. This year the former Barcelona man will provide another subplot to this Group C mix as he looks to take on his old club.
It has been a slow burner of a season for the Etihad club who squeezed by Sunderland on the opening day of the campaign. Since then, though, they have looked dominant having demolished Stoke City 4-1 and eased by Steaua Bucharest to book their place in the Champions League group stage.
City lost out to Real Madrid at the semi-final stages last year, but will surely be content to finish in second place given the might of the top seeds.
Their joust with Celtic will inevitably be billed as a Battle of Britain, and Rodgers will be keen to make the most of his Premier League experience to get the better of an English side that will look upon themselves as huge favourites when they walk into the Lions' Den at Parkhead.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
By far the lesser known of all four teams in the section but the one with the most Scrabble points. Monchengladbach arrive in this year's tournament after finishing fourth in last season's Bundesliga and navigating their way beyond Young Boys 9-2 on aggregate earlier this week.
Managed by Andre Schubert, the team that play at the 54,000-seater Borussia Park will present a tough barrier to Celtic but one that is not insurmountable. Brazilian forward Raffael was their top scorer last term with 14 goals - he also netted a hat-trick in Wednesday's 6-1 hammering of Young Boys.
In defence though, there will be opportunities for the Scottish champions to exploit. Monchengladbach conceded 50 goals on league duty last season, the highest of all teams in the top 12 positions, and this could be key for Celtic if they want to progress in Europe beyond Christmas.
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