DEFEAT to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night ended Celtic’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League.
But an encouraging performance from the Hoops has raised hopes that they could still make waves in European football after Christmas, with a Europa League place beckoning.
The Hoops are currently three points clear of rock-bottom Anderlecht in Group B and will be guaranteed a place in Europe’s secondary club competition if they can maintain their lead over the next two games.
Here, we look at the Bhoys’ record in the competition since it changed format from the old UEFA Cup.
2009/10: Group stage
Celtic’s effort to reach the Champions League was halted by Arsenal at the play-off stage with a 5-1 aggregate defeat and they dropped into the inaugural Europa League as a result.
Drawn in a group with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Rapid Vienna and Hamburg, the Hoops were disappointing and finished third in Group C behind the Israeli and German sides.
Their only win came against Tel Aviv at Parkhead on matchday five, with two draws against rock-bottom Vienna costing them as well as defeats in Israel and at home to Hamburg – who would go on to reach the semi-finals.
1 Hapoel Tel-Aviv 12pts
2 Hamburg 10pts
3 Celtic 6pts
4 Rapid Vienna 5pts
2010/11: Play-off
Celtic’s exploits were short and not so sweet a year later. A 3-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Braga in the Champions League saw the Bhoys drop into a Europa League play-off against Dutch side Utrecht.
A comfortable 2-0 home win in the first leg should have been enough to send Neil Lennon’s side through, but a shocking 4-0 loss in the Netherlands sent them tumbling out of the competition before the group stages.
2011/12: Group stage
Celtic were lucky to reach the group stages, losing their play-off to Sion 3-1 on aggregate before seeing the result reversed due to the Swiss club fielding ineligible players.
They were then drawn in a tough group with Atletico Madrid, Udinese and Rennes and again finished third with the same record as two years before: One win, three draws and two defeats.
The solitary win came against Rennes in Glasgow on matchday four, while the Italians twice held Lennon’s team to a 1-1 draw. Two defeats against Atletico proved to be no embarrassment as the La Liga giants went on to win the tournament.
1 Atletico Madrid 13pts
2 Udinese 9pts
3 Celtic 6pts
4 Rennes 3pts
2014/15: Round of 32
Celtic again fell short of the Champions League at the play-off stage, this time seeing their hopes ended by Maribor.
A drop into the Europa League group stages followed and this time the Celts managed to secure progress to the knockout stages for the first time in the Europa League era.
Two wins and two draws in their opening four games put Ronny Deila’s side in a strong position, the victories coming at home to Dinamo Zagreb and Astra Giurgiu. Back to back defeats against Red Bull Salzburg at home and away in Croatia did not prevent their progress as the Hoops finished second in Group D.
1 Red Bull Salzburg 16pts
2 Celtic 8pts
3 Dinamo Zagreb 6pts
4 Astra Giurgiu 4pts
A glamour tie against Inter Milan followed in the round of 32 and lived up to expectations after a thrilling 3-3 first leg draw a Parkhead.
John Guidetti’s 93rd minute equaliser had given fans hope that a famous result was possible at San Siro, but Virgil Van Dijk’s red card put them on the back foot in Italy before a Fredy Guarin wonder strike extinguished their hopes.
2015/16: Group stage
It was another season of settling for second best, after defeat to Swedish side Malmo in the Champions League play-offs extended Celtic's wait for a return to European football’s top table.
Things got even worse for Deila once the group draw was made, pitting the Bhoys against Fenerbahce, Molde and Ajax, and a winless campaign saw them finish rock bottom of Group A.
Surprise package Molde topped the group after beating the Celts home and away, while draws away in Holland and Turkey and at home to Fenerbahce were as good as it got for the Scots.
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