When the Champions League group stage draw was made I don’t think many of us considered the head-to-head between Celtic and Bayern Munich would be critical in deciding who finishes second. PSG’s 3-0 win over Bayern in Paris, together with their 0-5 in Glasgow, effectively ensures they will top the group. Celtic’s 0-3 in Brussels makes it practically impossible for Anderlecht to avoid bottom place.
All this means the only thing left to determine is the final position of Celtic and Bayern Munich. The German champions are overwhelming favourites and rightly so. There may be 32 teams left in the tournament, but two of the top four favourites to lift the trophy are alongside Celtic and Anderlecht in Group B. It would take a gargantuan task for Celtic to get the better of Bayern on the head-to-head, never mind in Munich. You can get 30/1 against Celtic tomorrow night, but I will not be betting, even at those odds.
It is at this stage, worthwhile acknowledging what happened to create this face-off between Celtic and Bayern Munich. Both teams were thumped by PSG, and both beat Anderlecht by three goals; Celtic away from home. Bayern responded to the appointment of new manager Jupp Heynkes with a 5-0 win at the weekend, but that came about because a drift in form was discernible. They are a team who have looked vulnerable.
Great teams can look vulnerable and still win 5-0, and I’m not going to tell you Celtic are going to turn them over tomorrow night, but Brendan Rodgers is planning for exactly that outcome. I might not bet Celtic at 30/1, but I don’t fancy the potential 12% return over one day available on Bayern Munich either.
Many thanks to everyone who entered the competition to win the James Forrest’s National Famine Memorial shirt. The raffle will end at midnight tonight, so if you would like to enter answer this question…….
Which Brazilian PSG player was booked for diving on match day one of this season’s Champions League?
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OUR SECOND CQN PODCAST this week, featuring interviews with ex-Celts Alan Stubbs and Chris Sutton, previewing the big games this week against Bayern Munich and Hibs at Hampden on Saturday.
Stubbs gives an insight into Liam Henderson as a player and talks about where his career should go from here.
BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton, who was speaking at the SPFL Betfred League Cup media day, spoke about Celtic’s European challenge in Munich and his former gaffer Gordon Strachan’s departure from Hampden Park.
Speaking on behalf of BT Sport, Alan Stubbs also spoke about his regret at leaving Hibs, and looks ahead to the League Cup semi-final between two of his former clubs.
BT Sport is where the best go head to head. Watch Bayern Munich v Celtic exclusively live in the UEFA Champions League on BT Sport ESPN from 7pm tonight & Hibs v Celtic exclusively live in the SPFL Betfred League Cup on BT Sport 1 from 11:15am on Saturday 21st October.
267 Comments- Pages:
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Celtic
Fc
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good Luck to Celtic and all who are following
HH
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We are gonna gub buyern
I think we have a punchers chance of a win but I’d take a 0-0 right now. See the first page of the new blog is started with the brainless stuff again. Not a great look when trying to attract intellegent debate to the site IMHO.
DELANEYSDUNKY
Cannae believe your’e staying in a dry area ! BTW have you met many Buxom Bavarian Barmaids !! LEDERHOSEN CSC !
I agree 0.0 would be a very welcome result & one I would grab with both hands right now
Without trying to sound too negative I think it’s a huge long-shot to be talking about finishing second.
Bayern will be really difficult opponents. Pace, power, possession, great technique. So much variety in their play.
Can play at different tempos and move suddenly from slow to quick. Like to attack from wide areas, but can also go through the middle. Also very good defensively, although not without weaknesses. Players all very tactically aware and can sort things out themselves on the pitch. Heynckes coming back will have given them a lift.
Our bhoys will have to be fully switched on at all times. A lot of off-the-ball runs to look out for – not something we have been great at in the past.
I’d actually fancy Bayern to beat PSG in Munich. Second place would be almost a miracle.
PAUL67
I won’t be watching tomorrow night,early start on a Wednesday. But even though I’m not expecting a famous victory,I’m more hopeful than would normally be the case.
Like most,I’d be delighted with a draw. Does our chances-and coefficient-no harm at all,and …
Just think of all them torn-faced Dobbers ripping up their coupons!!!
Magic…
FRANKMARKER
Well done on your podium gold. So what if some people don’t like it.
Might not be popular ,but we need to learn to park the bus when playing some teams in Europe.Playing LG, Paddy and Sinclair leaves our FBs exposed.A surprise might be Hayes sitting in front of KT in left MF, possibly Forrest on the right covering Lustig.
!BADABING!
Pragmatism,mate. Not pretty,sometimes effective.
Mourinho has made a career from it.
Guy I sat next to at the game v Freiburg was at PSG 3- Bayern Munich 0
He said that Ancelotti’s team selection was a ” Sack me – I’m tired and want to go home ” number. He added that he thought the scoreline flattered PSG .– we didn’t take our chances and gave them way too much time and space
BMCUWP “Well done on your podium gold.”………….Really? That’s cringeworthy stuff mate.
BMCUW- maybe Gamboa in front of Lustig at right MF , possibly why he got a run out on Saturday.
“Family ‘hit hard’ as ex-England captain Terry Butcher’s son dies”
Thoughts with Terry Butcher and his family. No parent should bury their children. RIP
BAWSMAN
Each to their own,not falling out about it.
BAWSMAN 1240
On that,we can definitely agree.
A tragedy for all involved,and I hope his family will have the strength to cope.
Realistically we are looking to avoid a humping. Bayern actualy dominated possesion against PSG in Paris. I hope Brendan learns from our PSG game and goes for a more defensive formation. I would hope he picks Forrest to stop Alaba bombing forward.
Hmmmm. No wonder Stuart Armstrong hasn’t played for a while.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/captains-mistress-gave-mock-orders-to-submarine-crew-pzrgpkgrq?CMP=Sprkr-_-Editorial-_-thetimes-_-News-_-Imageandlink-_-Statement-_-Unspecified-_-TWITTER&linkId=43538585
Just like last season, we are unfortunately drawn in a group which, to all intents and purposes, contains not one but two pot 1 teams.
As the pot 4 team, we will have exceeded expectations if we finish third.
I would like to think we would give Bayern a bit more of a game than we gave PSG though.
The Betfred Cup Semi Final Sat 21-Oct-17
Hibernian v Celtic Hampden Park KO 12.15pm BT Sport
Referee Kevin Clancy
AR1 Douglas Ross
AR2 Frank Connor
Fourth Official Craig Thomson
Bada Bing
Yes – I’m thinking maybe a 4-4-1-1. I wondered about Callum in front of Kieran to counteract the Robben-Kimmich threat. Agree with Forrest on the right, or maybe even Gamboa, with James playing just off Moussa.
It’s about getting the balance – you have to give them something to worry about at the back or else they will just push us back until we crack.
This will be hardest game of season so far. Munich are class team. PSG away will match it
Would go 4411
Gordon
Lustig, Derek, Simo, kt
Forrest, Brown, ntcham, sinclair
Griff
Dumbele
Maybe amstrong for ntcham with roberts and Forrest it’s a toss up
battle for every ball and blade of grass and I will be proud of the hoops
Supporters just have a great time and make friends
HH
Republic v Denmark
Norn Iron v Switzerland
Croatia v Greece
Sweden v Italy
Sipsini- no bother, enjoy
Bada –
Some tasty looking Last Man Standing fixtures for Week 7 ;-)
Gooooood Morning CQN
Last day in Mexico, and will be home in time to see the Bhoys tomorrow :-))
( incidentally Gordon Strachan, plenty of wee Mexicans, how do they do internationally ? )
Bada,
Paddy gives Mikael more defensive protection and support than James
And Calum is poor defensively (in my opinion) so can’t see that one either ?
Agree we need to learn to defend in Europe better as a team.
Would keep Sinclair wide for his pace to counter attack though
Hail Hail
Bhoys and Ghirls,
Tomorrow is a night where legends can be made. We know the challenge is formidable and we know the disparity of wealth is immense.
However, we need a certain romance that no domestic game can give us. Personally I think this European campaign has overshadowed all.
I can’t remember every domestic semi final cup scorers but I can vividly proudly remember a game a way back fn 1982. Indeed a certain Charlie Nicholas reckons it was his best game, best goal and his most memorable match.
This is the challenge; the odds are against us but the rewards will be historic .
Hail Hail, to all , and especially to those who have made the Herculean effort to cheer us on in Munich. I salute you. May the Football Gods be generous to us.
Cowiebhoy
Went to playacar a few years ago – loved it – visited a few Mayan sites and swam in the cenote
Would go again – have a safe journey home
Denmark v ROI
I know it wasn’t so long ago but being an auld Bhoy I am having a wee bit of trouble in reminding myself of brendans thoughts after we got beat by PSG ?
Didn’t he say words to the effect that ” we stood off of PSG, and allowed them too much space etc” ?
I think that was his and the overall general view on here, so I think that it would be a serious mistake to show Bayern too much respect, so lets have a real go at them as we really have little to lose, especially after we beat Anderlecht.
Now I am fully aware that ” having a go ” at a team like Bayern on their own patch is easier said than done, however I do hope that Brendan and the Bhoys have a real belief in OUR ABILITIES as a team, and have a go whenever possible.
It is stating the obvious that we can not simply hope to defend deep for 90 minutes, so lets get at them Celts…..( easy to say whilst sitting in the hoose or a saloon bar) ?
Perhaps Brendan has an “Ace” up his sleeve by way of personnel or tactics….maybe both ?
I like to think he has…in Brendan we Trust.
Barry FergusHUN…..yet again another example of the Hun Hordes selective memory banks in order to rewrite history….My memory apart from the feckin “Anti Football” by Oldco in 2008, was that both the SFA and SPL moved at LEAST THREE games to suit the Huns prior to the UEFA Final.
Funny how Wee Barry omitted to mention how the “Loyal cardigan” Walter, (that master tactician.)..left the Huns top goalscorer on the bench for the majority of the game v Zenit.
Since 2008, several Hun fans that I have spoken to will never forgive Wattie for leaving Boyd on the bench until it was too late in a UEFA Final.
it was also an under strength Zenit team that night as their Top striker ( can’t remember his name ?), got himself sent off in the semi final, when they were home and dry in that semi, and therefore was suspended for the final. The Zenit player I speak of soon was transferred to Spurs methinks for big money ?
HH
Bawsman
With you on the Podium stuff. If someone posts a comment which turns out to be the first, then I can understand the lighthearted pretence of having had a great triumph but I feel that all this 1,2,3,4,5,and 6 stuff diminishes the site and is even disrespectful to Paul\s efforts in having written his article each day.
JJ