Celtic were schooled on their first away game in the Champions League last season, the 7-1 scoreline did not flatter Borussia Dortmund. Plans changed for the trip to Atalanta, where heroic defending earned a 0-0 draw.
The same result was earned at Dinamo Zagreb, although this time, Celtic dominated possession, but did not make enough chances to look like taking all three points. The final league stage game at Aston Villa is difficult to analyse. 2-0 down in 5 minutes, Adam Idah levelled before the break. Celtic remained in the game until Villa settled it in added time.
Then came Munich. Celtic’s best away Champions League performance ever? Slim pickings, I know, but despite conceding a late equaliser, that performance has never been bettered.
We can be hopeful that there was a lot of learning from away games in Europe last season, the contrasts in our two visits to Germany could hardly be more marked. Our tactics in Zagreb were replicated in Almaty (same result, different outcome) and I expect the same again tonight.
Celtic will try to control the ball as much as possible, without committing too many players into forward positions. We need to be careful in possession (mis-controls inside our own half tonight could be costly) and look to counter effectively.
Cameron Carter-Vickers will be the only defender from the game in Munich to play tonight. Liam Scales is preferred these days to (the injured) Auston Trusty. Kieran Tierney is in for Jeffrey Schlupp, and I expect to see Colby Donovan in for Alistair Johnston.
An away win in Europe is usually a transformative result; let’s hope.
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Game day hump day!
HH!
Howdy AIPPLE.
have a good one. HH
Hope you’re right Paul
Tonight will be a good gauge for where we are right now. A point tonight would be one of the better away results in recent years.
I’d play Maeda out right with Iheanacho upfront. We didn’t get our summer right winger because we refused to pay more than £2.5 million so we are, where we are.
The least worst option is Maeda, he’ll at least provide good support for Donovan in defence. Where as Yang will do nothing of note in either half of the pitch for us.
I’d start Engels too. We need his running ability and strength in that midfield.
If we start Nygren and Yang, it’ll be a long night with lots of balls given away and sooner or later, it’ll be one lost possession too many.
“the 7-1 scoreline did not flatter Borussia Dortmund”
Aye it did! How many shots from outside the box did they score with? There were some absolute worldies in amongst them.
And the odd deflection too?
I don’t know their XG, but I’d hazard a guess and say it was less than 3.
Update, I’ve checked and the xG is spread 2.72-2.84 for Dortmund versus Celtic’s 1.67-1.95
Possession was 52:48
They had 13 shots on target and scored with 7 of them. We didn’t prevent the shots which is the lesson, but the value of the shots was low.
If it had finished 3-1, even 2-1, it wouldn’t have flattered Celtic, despite the fundamental issues – which as I recall were largely on a central midfield that was wrong side for much of the game.
We’re too apt to judge the performance by the result, particularly as memory fades and the result is all that’s left.
As Euro pumpings go, this was no PSG or Barca nightmare. This was a hopeless midfield set up coupled to statistically improbable finishing.
LEFTCLICKTIC re: Howdy AIPPLE.
Will miss the first half because…….work.
HH!
AN DUN
Although I agree with you, Brendan was asked about Maeda playing on the right and he said no.
Suspect it will be the same team.
This would have been an excellent paragraph to congratulate whoever sets tactics-
“Plans changed for the trip to Atalanta, where heroic defending earned a 0-0 draw”
Maybe next time
TBB @ 1217 – spot on, on your analysis and thanks for the XG stats. The score certainly flattered BVB although Celtic had to also learn from it.
Aipple – I will also being “working” for the first half 😉
Weeron: Glad you are sorted for tonight and Saturday.
We will need CCV’s experience tonight, but he’s been giving me the fear recently. Seems slower and a bit uncertain in possession.
I also hope we play five across the middle with Iheanacho an out ball, feeding it to wide midfielders in counter-attacks. Rodgers did really well v Atalanta and Bayern. Hope he sticks to this more pragmatic approach.
Maybe we’ll see Seb on the right tonight.
One consolation is that Red Star will surely only enjoy the half-hearted support of a sparse crowd tonight. Having won only 10 of the last 14 Serbian titles surely their fans will be more furious than ours (13 from 14) and will have organised a boycott.
Perhaps one of the biggest lessons we haven’t learnt (in my opinion) when playing against much better oponents is to stop playing two wingers. Go 442 (or even 451) with Tounekti and Iheanacho (or Maeda) up front.
This should make us much harder to beat as our midfield gives up too much space and physicality when we go with Calmac, Reo and Nygren (or Engels). Leave Yang, JF and Balikwisha on the bench, please.
On form so far this season, I’d give the 4th midfield spot to Luke.
Saying that, we all know BR will start with a front 3 one of whom will provide no defensive cover and be like starting with a man down.
Is James Forrest fit and available?
Bhoys Town
The stadium will be empty if anything like our lot.
Net Spend -£28m this summer
Bhoys Town
I mean Red Star -£28m
TBB
Great stats. It really felt far worse but seeing it like that when I think back it may have just been feeling like ‘here we go again’. It really wasn’t a great Dortmund team either.
Aipple
Work is the curse of the drinking classes
kingLUBO
Watching Premier Sports,I’m sure they are another hun infested organisation,There programme Scottish Club ,Daryl Currie ,Alan Hutton,Michael Stewart and guest Derek McInnes all have a connection to the Ibrox Club.
KINGLUBO re: wee drink
Maybe I will cancel my meetings, stick it to the Private Equity whores!
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TEXASTIM re: “working” see above good sir!
Didn’t Hibs get a good result away in Belgrade not so long ago?
I do believe they did, though Partisan went down to ten men in the first half.
Lets assume Red Star are the better of the two Belgrade teams, thing is we do not know just how much better.
And this is where tactics matter. Our midfield needs to support our defence not the other way round, Engels has a bit of that in him, so should start. Maeda can offer an outball and is a good defender too at times.
As stated yesterday we will still have a fair bit of experience on the pitch and a few more games in our legs so there is a chance we might get something out of the game, probably score too.
Allez Les Hoops!
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2025 1:47 PM
Is James Forrest fit and available?
—-
I think he is but he’s past starting games for us, especially ones like tonight.
His role now is help us see out games with 15 or so mins left.
BORGO67 on 24TH SEPTEMBER 2025 12:34 PM
AN DUN
Although I agree with you, Brendan was asked about Maeda playing on the right and he said no.
Suspect it will be the same team.
——
Did he say this before or after the transfer window closure ?
None of our options on the right are good but Yang is a man down.
Bournesouprecipe @ 10:42 am,
Matchday 10.
Dermot Dastardly reads CQN so be very, very careful what you say. What was it that first attracted you to the billionaire Dermot Dastardly? , a man that’s never been beyond Parkhead Cross, wouldn’t know a roll n’ skwerr if it landed on his lap and never bought a Green Citizen in his puff.
If you don’t believe it, you’ve missed him saying it “ he watches every single Celtic game “ from his Castle, front room, – him Brett and wee Andrea. Never missed so much as a Liam Scales sclaff, an Arne Engels corner, or a Big Adam peach
Up in the morning straight onto his iPad just like regular Parkhead plebeians, he studies “ all the football sites “ , logic suggests he’s on CQN for the midday gospel according to St.Paul. Neil Lennon could have won a bunch of podiums, and never left the building agreeing with a lead article, but it didn’t put him off, he knew he was just a puppet. BR thinks he’s a top, top manager, his unbeaten record and Celtic getting £9M compensation first time around, he could be onto something.
Every day Moustachio facetimes Pistol on his moby and they chat about how ‘super intelligent’ they both are, what wonders they’ve both achieved in life, and how much money they make especially from the legendary Celtic Superstore January Sale. They swop notes on how to get ‘good value’ and sigh, if only Celtic supporters would learn how to run a football club , or if only Brendan could spot a player as good as what they can, there would be no need for him at all ( oh wait ) .
By 12.15 sharp, he’s scoffed a world class omelette ( Michael would have been so proud ) topped with Beluga caviar, Perigord truffles, gourmet of course, cheese board, and still somehow shoehorned himself into his skinny jeans. Not too shabby for the 76 year old, they call The Kaiser. Off to the gowf he goes, though he doesn’t call it that, 18 or so in, early finish better go, ‘Suultic’ Glasgow are on TNT the night, nearly forgot.
Mon the Hoops CSC
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Hail Hail
Brilliant stuff:)))
AN DUN 2.36pm
He said it at the press conference before Thistle game. Not sure who asked.
Agree about Yang, especially when he starts a game.
The only person guaranteed not to lose tonight is our manager.
Win, and he’ll be lauded as a genius for masterminding a victory despite “the board” tying one hand behind his back.
Lose, and it will be because “the board” didn’t give him the “pace & power to compete at this level “.
Of all the crazy things going on at Celtic at the moment, having a manager who few will hold to account for tactics, performance and results is perhaps the craziest.
Semi final v Sevco Sunday 2nd November 2pm ko
!!Bada Bing!! on 24th September 2025 3:45 pm
Semi final v Sevco Sunday 2nd November 2pm ko
*All Souls Day, lets hope they’re the ould souls that day, deid and buried
Bhoys Town on 24th September 2025 1:13 pm
:-))))
Ach shite I’ll be in Lanzarote.
Not sure why ( as I know very little about our opposition) but I FEEL very confident that we will not lose this evening.
Cheerio for now.
Hot Smoked , that reaction to the stupid post just proves how far removed you both are from the reasons for the dissatisfaction.
Just saw the LC Semifinal schedule.
First game kicks off 5:30pm on Saturday.
With additional time as it is these days that is 2 hours to full time.
If it goes to extra time that is another 40 minutes with breaks.
Penalties? Another 20 minutes.
Plus both clubs have right of access to the pitch for post-match warm downs.
Another 30 minutes.
In short?
It might be 9pm before the pitch is cleared of footballers.
17 hours later we are expected to play on it.
Amateurish.
Almore 12:47pm
Thanks. I get over once a year and get one game in, so two is a great.
timmy7_noted on 24th September 2025 4:12 pm
Those `reasons` come down to having been knocked out of the CL.
Definitely off now.
Cheerio.