CELTIC have been drawn against Alashkert of Armenia in the Champions League first qualifying round.

And they will face Rosenborg or Reykjavic in the next qualifier should they win.

Brendan Rodgers and his players face a 7000 mile round trip for their first game of the season, which will take place in the Armenian capital Yerevan on July 10 or 11.

The return leg is a week later at Celtic Park, on Wednesday July 18, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Brendan Rodgers won't be too upset about the quality of the opposition but the journey to Yerevan is something he could have done without.

However, the double-treble winners should overcome the Armenians with no real problems as they attempt to reach the group stage for a third successive season.

Alashkert Stadium has a capacity of just 6,850; however, the game will probably be moved to bigger Republican Stadium.

The second round will be tougher.

Celtic faced Rosenborg at the same stage last season when a James Forrest goal in Norway won the tie.