Berlin to Lisbon

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A game against Union Berlin, from the second tier of German football, four days before our Champions League qualification campaign gets underway sounds like perfect preparation.  Union will be better than any opposition we have or will play since defeat in Turin last month and they will be miles ahead of our Champions League second qualifying round opponents.

Having to play six instead of last season’s four games to qualify for the group stage has cost Celtic ‘lucrative’ preseason friendlies.  I am sure those charged with the task of balancing the books at Celtic Park (we always pay our bills) will be less than entertained by this, and for many supporters, if feels important that we face Real Madrid or Inter Milan preseason, but the summer time is all about qualifying for the Champions League.  There are five weeks between Celtic’s opening qualifying game and the first leg of the play-off round.  This extra preparation time should ensure we are fitter and ready.

Legend has it that competitive football in July inevitably leads to a drop in form late in the season but legends are not always reliable.  Last year Basel entered Champions League qualification at the same stage Celtic will next season, and next week they become the first Swiss team to play competitive European football in May ever.  Apoel Nicosia entered at the same stage in 2011 and became Cyprus’ first qualifier for the Champions League quarter final last year.

The Champions League final of 2014 will be held in Lisbon, the first time the city has hosted Europe’s top game since………. you know when.  There are 1730 miles between Berlin and Lisbon, or 10 months, if you prefer.  Preparations are already underway.

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  1. Howard Webb is the typical modern day referee. Never as good as the players in front of him. But wants to be the centre of attention any way.

  2. valentinesday on

    Jobo Baldie

     

     

    I Thought for a moment I was alone…….no doubt in

     

    the future i’ll have a fight on here and that post will

     

    get flung in my face.

  3. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Henr1ck …… I’m afraid so…..

  4. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    headtheball

     

     

    20:28 on 30 April, 2013

     

     

    sevco need a strong sevco……and that will not happen.”.LOL…….

  5. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    If Dortmund can settle down in attack, they will score……a few passes overhitbin the first half…..

  6. valentinesday on

    twoMacaroons

     

    20:31 on

     

    30 April, 2013

     

    That Dortmund kit would make a good away kit for us.

     

     

     

    What’s in the kit widnae go a miss either.

  7. Lennybhoy

     

    Seville sickened me, I know of people who got tickets who had not attended a league match that season because of contacts in the executive club. The biggest game ever in our lifetime and folk who never go were at the match, that is totally wrong.

  8. Im sure someone will have a wee word in Webbs ear at half time about Elbows Ramos

     

    Cant see him lasting the full match. He will defo not make the final even if Madrid go through.

     

    Cracking game

  9. Lennybhoy – couple of friends of mine got tickets didn’t go to Semi Final and not seen an away game all season!

     

     

    It is frustrating esp when having to tell my bhoys they don’t have a ticket!

  10. Howard Webb hasn’t been the same since he came second in a Troon Tim look-a-like contest.

     

     

    I won it. Howard was raging and promptly appealed the decision.

     

     

    Thankfully LNS judged that actually being Troon Tim did not give me a competitive advantage.

     

     

    HH

  11. Lennybhoy

     

     

    The ticket office habitually make a pig’s erchie of it

     

     

    The amount of occasional fans at the CL games was ridiculous

     

     

    Not ensuring that regular fans get CF tickets is outrageous

  12. The Boy Jinky on

    Guy in my work goes to all home games with his wee girl… went to the lc semi but not the sc semi

     

    She gets a letter. He doesnt

     

     

    Other guy in work same attendance with his nephew… he gets one … nephew doesnt

     

     

    Go figure

  13. Some of you will know Paul The Tim, goes everywhere home away abroad lennoxtown, he even goes into sports shops to look at Celtic tops, letter received.

     

    No ticket.

  14. Only prob with ITV 1hd…you can’t pause or rewind…bit of a bugger if you miss something.

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