Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has dubbed Celtic "lucky" after they managed to squeak through to the Champions League group stage this evening.

Brendan Rodgers' men headed to Israel for the second leg of their Champions League playoff round tie against Hapoel Beer Sheva with a 5-2 advantage from the first leg in Scotland.
 



But Celtic were made to sweat as Hapoel Beer Sheva put them on the rack, scoring in the 21st and 48th minutes; the Israeli champions missed a penalty in the 16th minute.

Celtic had to withstand wave after wave of attack at the end, as Hapoel Beer Sheva searched for the third goal which would have put the Bhoys out on away goals.
 


But Celtic held on and Barton took to Twitter to link to a YouTube video from the movie Snatch, titled Lucky B*****d and wrote: "Watching that Champions League Qualifier and thinking…."

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Celtic now head into the draw for the group stage of the Champions League and will be in line for a lucrative six games in Europe's elite competition.

The Bhoys did not manage to make the group stage under Ronny Deila in 2014 and 2015.

Rodgers may now be able to dip into the transfer market before the window closes to reinforce his squad.