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. Think I’d be seriously challenged to accept a ticket to attend any match in that den, even though its a cup final my principles would remain intact, but if the afore mentioned franny wants to test those principles he can get my contact details from paul67

  2. Thatcherite pish? Get a grip. Dont read you coming out with that patter when we’re auctioning whatever for good causes.

     

    What better cause than Celtic?

     

    Let’s face it Coca Cola has won. We need to attract a better class of fan with more disposable income than your average ethnic immigrant (and I include myself in that bracket).

     

    Prices should be going up not down.

  3. celticrollercoaster on

    TwoMacaroons

     

    21:38 on

     

    30 April, 2013

     

     

    Hope you picked a good dvd? :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  4. The Boy Jinky on

    Dortmund needed sammi there… still cant believe how the big man held the ball in the corner against moscow

  5. Yeh nice one, glad Dortmund got there, hope they win it.

     

     

     

    CRC silver linings playbook, not bad.

  6. NatKnow - "We welcome the paper-chase..." on

    Clink\o/

     

    21:41 on

     

    30 April, 2013

     

     

    Ole Jose complaining about wasting time

     

     

    I was smiling when I saw that :-)

  7. scotpatsfan

     

     

    Yep that rung a bell…. think your correct.

     

     

    Never missed a game back then, home or away, but always struggled for Ipox and Finals….

     

     

    Good days though

  8. Evening all

     

     

    Well done Dortmund – wobbled a bit at the end And should have killed it before Real scored. Who’d have thunk a team from Europe’s richest country which plays in front of 80000 every week could be underdogs. But they sort of were.

     

     

    Bed soon , early start.

     

     

     

     

    Jimbo

  9. NatKnow - "We welcome the paper-chase..." on

    Foxy_1888 –

     

     

    You think that increasing the Season Ticket prices by £100 would produce more income for the club?

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