Celtic will face Kazakhstan Champions, Astana in the Champions League play-off round later this month, with the first leg at home. The teams faced in the same qualifying competition last season, with Celtic progressing, winning the second leg 2-1 after a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan.
Astana eliminated Legia Warsaw in the last round, securing a 3-1 victory in the first leg, before holding on for a 1-0 defeat in Warsaw after 8 minutes of added time.
Although Brendan Rodgers will know what to expect, the enormous journey, the heat and the fact that Astana are 21 games into their league season, will give him cause for concern.
On the positive side, our man in Warsaw tells me there is a new pitch at the Astana Arena, which Legia report was excellent and a near-grass experience. He also tells me Legia should have done better in this tie, were the better team home and away, but were caught by Astana’s counter-attack.
They “parked the bus” in Warsaw and showed signs of indiscipline against Legia, which Celtic may be able to exploit.
Strikers Kwumasi and Kabananga, and midfielder, Maevski, are their danger players, while their keeper is “awful”.
It’s there for you, Celtic.
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BEATBHOY on 4TH AUGUST 2017 11:37 AM
Embramike
As long as it’s not the school holiday week!
get intae the Astana
C’MON THE HOOPS!
Tight game ahead…should we speculate to accumulate?
Oh, and . . . Strip ’em, of course!
Good article Paul!
EMBRAMIKE SUPPORTING RES 12 on 4TH AUGUST 2017 11:39 AM
If I remember rightly, their goal last year at CP was a result of a Craig Gordon header outside the box which was lobbed 40 yards into the net over KT. Late Dembele penalty sealed it for us after Griff penalty late in 1st half stoppage time had put us ahead.
Late Griffiths equaliser secured the draw over there in first game.
Would have prefeared Maribor. So we must go to Asia. Explain that, UEFA.
mind n book a plane wi beds in it.:-)
Well done Celtic.
nearly there
HH
Astana – one I wanted to avoid.
Not a great draw especially with the first game at CP.
Hopefully a few of our injured on the mend.
TK
2 podia in a week. . . . . Thanks for keeping me on there posting, Mickbhoy 1888!
Ffs!
Another European tie in Central Asia!
The east coast of North America is closer!
HH!!
Will be like “Round The World in 80 Days” to get there!!
Ulryc
Did we get two goals from penalties at Celtic Park against them? Can’t remember.
How many hours are the ahead of us 5/6?
Aye, Paul.
And they showed ‘signs of indiscipline’ against us, too …
Vip
BEATBHOY on 4TH AUGUST 2017 11:38 AM
Embramike
As long as it’s not the school holiday week!
No chance ! “Ankle biter” free Costa for me every time !
TONYD67
5 hours.
Games against Thistle Kilmarnock and St Johnstone sandwich the Astana ties, nae problems there
‘A near grass experience’.
-I’ve sworn off those since I turned the ole TV on and saw hoopslegend Dion Dublin floggin’ a 2 bedroom maisonette in Bonkle.
Can’t imagine they’ve improved in last 12 months to the same degree we have. Definitely doable.
So, expect an open, attractive and flowing game of football at Celtic Park in the home leg :-)
if a team comes and parks the bus, they should start with an automatic one goal deficit.
Just noticed, Istanbul at home first, so leave now stuff irrelevant anyway!
Help needed, I’m in Cork for the first CL game, best place to watch the game ?
POT 3 or POT 4.
Napoli ..
A city that ‘s big on luck , fate and magic .
Quick scroll on some Napoli blogs — they are concerned that they might have tempted fate by laughing at Balotelli when he missed a penalty v Napoli while playing for Milan.
Astana made it through to the EL last season, but finished bottom of a fairly weak group. Decent at home, poor away. Nothing to be scared of, but need to win at home and keep a clean sheet.
The only tie that Celtic were dreading coming out in the draw was Beer Sheva
Maybe Celtic should travel a day early to adjust to time difference (+5 hours) and climate.
Last years game ko’d at 8pm local time – tonight the temperature at 8pm will be around 22 C and with a better surface and a lead to protect we should be able to handle this tie. 1st leg vital.
Pretty sure they will have been watched before we play them.
Curly
My map app is telling me that (if I set off now and don’t stop on the way) it would take me 71 hrs and 6 mins to drive to Astana (or 68h 35′ without traffic).
Maybe best not to go by car …
VIP
Will it be Premier Sports or BT?
Team that drew 1-1 last year
1Gordon
23Lustig
4Ambrose
34O’Connell
63Tierney
27Roberts
42McGregor
8Brown
14Armstrong
10Dembele
9Griffiths
Its rediculess, I could fly to Toronto Canada in three hours less, then again it’s the same for them, but still stupid.
DBBIA- VG :))
79 caps
Celtic couldn’t draw Maribor
West End- The Friars Walk
Paul67,
Are Celtic likely to make any kind of comment following the SC ruling or indeed the pursuit of a judicial review?
I need something from the club because right now and after 20 years a season ticket holder and shareholder I feel like throwing in the towel.
I need to know that the club are on the side of justice and have not allowed themselves to be compromised by past behaviours.
DBBIA
Ha!Ha!
A Dallas buy-to-rent?
If we not bringing anyone new in, add Ciftci to Euro squad(i know,i know), MD is out, LG fragile, Rogic and JF through the middle didnt work
Phil
BT