When we drew Maribor I wrote about their performance in last season’s Europa League, when they were eliminated by eventual winners, Sevilla. Our man, Blaz, in Slovenia, also warned me that this was a settled team who had improved since ending Rangers’ interest in European football three years ago.
I watched Red Bull Salzburg destroy Ajax in Amsterdam last season with some sublime football, and my pal in Austria tells me not to put too much store in their 3-0 humbling by Malmo, who, apparently, rode their luck to an incredible degree. Having said that, on the balance of probabilities, they are by far the top seed we would have chosen.
As Croatia Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb bossed Celtic out of the Champions League play-off round in 1998, our first attempt at the tournament. Zagreb’s stock has fallen since, so while you could make a good case to suggest we are far from ready to tackle any European team right now, this is a good draw. They are also not Legia Warsaw, which would have been an unwelcome confrontation at this time.
So far, so good. Then we draw a complete unknown from pot 4, who happened to eliminate Lyon in the last round.
Between now and the middle of next month Celtic have to be ready for these challenges. We have an opportunity to progress in the Europa League, earn some badly needed coefficient points, and revenue in the second half of the season.
Bring it on.
[calameo code=000390171586f6fbaa2ba lang=en page=122 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
3,233 Comments- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 86
- »
looks ok
HAIL HAIL
I’ve never heard of Astra. Do they have any stars in their team?
2nd first.jungle jim i’m catching up.
tonydonnelly67 as an outsider, what do you think of the human race?
So, Salzburg, Zagreb and Astra eh.
Let’s face it, with Berget supplying Stokes, and Mulgrew covering Ambrose, we’re an absolute shoo in to qualify…
Podium?
Underwhelming selection of opponents!
HH!
Happy Friday all. We’ll get out of this group.
Fandango!
Celtic supporters will be there to support their team.
Big game hunters have a decision to make.
HH
Good draw
Could be fireworks at the Astra ties.
I’ll get my coat.
Half empty Celtic park
Lack of goal scorers
Van dyke gone by Monday
Time to be humbled by European minnows
Having already lost to 2 pot 4 EL teams this month I wouldn’t expect too much from this group.
We will still require to do our homework and never underestimate anybody.
HH.
Astra no mugs, finished second to Steaua Bucharest in league and beat them to win Romanian Cup last year as well as knocking out Lyon in qualifying
Yeah….we will wipe the floor with everyone, and win the europa league
No bother eh.
Dearie me
HH
eddieinkirkmichael
12:44 on 29 August, 2014
tonydonnelly67 as an outsider, what do you think of the human race?
_________________________
You by any chance related to BFDJ?
Astra knocked Lyon out…
P67-Any comment on the fall out from Tuesday,and PL’s interview?
SydneyTim
12:46 on 29 August, 2014
Half empty Celtic park
Lack of goal scorers
Van dyke gone by Monday
Time to be humbled by European minnows
Why so opTIMistic?
Top two qualify
Round of 32 – 12 Group winners and 4 best CL 3rd placed teams seeded against 12 runners up and the 4 other CL3s
Matches ko at 18:00 & 20:05 CP time, televised on ITV 4 and BT Sport
Don’t expect us to qualify.
Terrible draw from perspectives of qualification, travelling, lack of ‘name opposition’ and selling tickets.
Top two qualify or just winner ?
Gary67,
Quite. I’m hopeful we can get out this group but I wouldn’t be as cocky as some.
I think that’s the easiest group we could have. Then again, I thought we’d beat Maribor at home too :-(
Crossover squire.
Thanks mate
When is the PL interview? Is it on TV?
As an apology to the fans for the CL shambles, the board should put all three home games on ST. They’ll hardly sell any, 20-25k max, and even then at a greatly reduced cost.
Not a bad draw in terms of getting through. Might be the sort of level we can make an impression at whilst we build for the future.
Heartened to see Scepovic and Wakaso actually made it into the squad too.
OnwardsandupwardsCSC
No more Astra jokes please! P67, please turf them out.
Despite how p*** poor we are, its a group we would all have chosen if offered before hand.
Some good teams there I’ll be at Celtic Park for those games, the doubters and moaners and Huns will be in here keeping the blog up to date on how bad we are, and how rotten our club is.
Old Nigel Farage will be supporting the Hoops when we play Astra.
Big wavy
Top 2
Us and Salzburg are of similar quality, so would hope it would be the two of us that go through
HH
Ive got an Astra. Good car btw!!
Ticket prices will need to be sensible for these games,3 are 6.05 KO, and 3 are 8.05PM
Place will be jumping if Astra come to town at 18:00 on Thursday 11th December and Celtic already eliminated.