Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain will bring some autumn glamour to Glasgow in the Champions League group stage. Bayern are second favourites for the trophy, PSG, fifth. The challenge to reach the knock out stage could scarcely be greater.
Anderlecht, by comparison, offer substantially less-ominous opposition, but a quick glance at their European form will dissuade anyone from underestimating the Belgian champions.
The group bears a remarkable resemblance to Celtic’s 2003 Champions League group, the last time we faced Bayern and Anderlecht, with another French side, Lyon, ending up as group winners. All four teams finished within three points, with Bayern and Lyon both winning the final games by a single goal – dropped points would have seen them eliminated. Celtic qualified for the Uefa Cup, courtesy of a superior head-to-head record against Anderlecht.
Anderlecht started last season slowly (as they have this season), failing to reach the Champions League group stage, but that only spurred them on for a memorable Europa League campaign. In Europe’s second-tier tournament, they won away in Azerbaijan before recording draws in France (St Etienne) and Germany (Mainz, whom they beat 6-1 in Brussels). Fortunate form for trips to those two territories this term.
They knocked-out Zenit and APOEL Nicosia in the first two Europa League rounds before being eliminated 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter-final by Manchester United. Those are very decent European results, but it you want some comfort, Ajax went all the way to the final 14 weeks ago, and they were beaten home and away by Rosenborg this month. It’s not about what you did yesterday that counts.
At Celtic Park, we have a punchers’ chance against Bayern and PSG, but our measure of progress this season will be determined by results against Anderlecht. The night we beat them 3-1 in 2003 counts as one of our great Champions League performances, the stadium rose to a man and blew the Belgian champions away. Watch the highlights if you are in any doubt about this.
The 2003 1-0 defeat by 10 men in Brussels still rankles as an underachievement. Losing to an 86th minute goal in Munich, after being ahead with 17 minutes to go, and losing to an 86th minute penalty in Lyon, leaves me feeling we have some scores to settle.
Let’s take them this time, Brendan. You know you can…
NEW CQN PODCAST – PAUL DYKES PRESENTS WITH FORMER CELTIC CAPTAIN ANDY LYNCH AND SPECIAL GUEST PAT STANTON
658 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- ...
- 18
- »
Two cops attacked with knives outside the Queens hoos.
….oot.
KevJ
We don’t give the money oot, that is uefa’s privilage,
HH
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD
Funnily enough I don’t blame ragers 1872 for the corruption in our game as IMO they cheated because they were allowed to cheat and they did so to gain the upper hand .
I blame the peepil who allowed /assisted them in their cheating
Ragers 1872 are an irrelevance as they no longer exist and it was their greed and one mans ego that did for them .
the problem I have is that the same peepil are still hanging around our game like a bad smell looking to lie and cheat to aid and abet sevco 2012
HH
TET
If we ever got the chance to discuss how corrupt Scotland is, im sure you would be amazed at some of the things ive uncovered.
HH
Team for the morra,
Ntcham
Ntcham Ntcham Ntcham Ntcham
Ntcham Ntcham Ntcham
Ntcham Ntcham Ntcham
I see that Leicester have undertaken the epic journey to Manchester by plane, just wait till we play hearts, jet along the M8
TET
••••••
Cheers.
…oot.
https://youtu.be/_iYqWtIm0zI
another from The Pogues
Jimtim, that Motta character was the guy who tried to take on Bobo at half time in the tunnel when we beat Barca 1 nil in 2004 .
If V V D is not being sold can we not bring him back on a season long loan deal.
After our Treble winning invincible season our priority was CL football. Objective achieved. Hh
FSTB
You are talking about dishonesty and institutional corruption that is part of the ‘kulture’. The anti-Catholicism in Scotland is horrific. In the last few days, check out the antics of that bigot Ruth Davidson and friends. Scotland is rotten to the core.
Scotland can GTF.
Its not my identity or culture.
HH
My bhoy put me onto this.I’d say if you don’t like it your soul needs some sugar.
Brushy One String
https://youtu.be/E8H-67ILaqc
Jeezo nearly 40 years old,
https://youtu.be/9T9bqQh-gFI
i aint half getting old
TGM
I know fine well how corrupt it is, trust me on that.
I remember when I first went to Ireland, their in your face corruption amazed me, I had never seen people spending hundreds of thousands of pounds-euros just to get elected as a local councelor, there was one bloke in the Dublin area, can’t recall his name offhand who spent nigh on 500k to get elected, he didn’t, I’m sure Whits will know who I mean.
Here in Spain scotland could learn a thing or two from these folks :-)
HH
DD- if still aboot….met Andy McAuley my old reggy teacher from St Tams on the ole Balloch train tonight.
Looking good but has ditched the ole Dan Dares.
Spent most of day in the Royal as M-I-L taken in and not looking good and on a warning. Will now miss game tomorrow…boooo! Will not ask for prayers as the wummin has been thru too much already.
Beer time.
Gordy
A bomb. What a song.
You may feel auld mucker, you look a figure of youth like me. Plenty a tune in the auld fiddle yet. ;))
AoW
Thoughts with your MiL.
HH
DD,
cheers mate,though not sure if the creaking when i stand up
is the floorboards or my knees
AoW 10.56am
I know you were in the company of a Sevconian this morning when you poised the CL question, don’t really know him so didn’t want to rub our joy in too much when you asked “about the CL draw” hope my retort hit the point :-)
BURNLEY78 @ 10.20
The media in this instance can only report what many Celtic fans are saying.
An increase of 15% isn’t realist to many, and its not Celtic fans fault that we should pay so dearly to see Neymar, he’s not playing for Celtic, and because we could charge more doesn’t mean that we should.
“Leveraging every penny” from Celtic fans.
Really?
Thankfully in the Celtic support we have opinion contrary to big business head monikers.
DD,
canny believe you are off to Munchen,
only back from Vegas the day before the game,so no chance
of me getting over for it
As a Celtic supporter , it is never east to feel relaxed but , having qualified for the Group Stages, we are already successful for this season.
Goodnight all.
JJ
AoW
Met McAuley, Gormley and Boab McGarrill in Seville. McGarrill is a legend Tim. Smokes and drinks for Saint Tams. Bernard Ponsonby was some guy too. Andy McAuley was a good Fenian Son of the Rock. Dumbarton Republican.
Gordy
It is my creaky floorboards and the dug that always farts. Isnae me :))
TET
When i was working with ‘Scottish’ historians, i was always astonished by their prejudice. Its their country, their ‘roots’ you see. They didnt see me as Scottish, glad about that, because i was not born here by choice:)
F/wits of the masonic order.
HH
One quick point before my departure. Mayweather is an absolute certainty tonight.
JJ
Ticket pricing this season has been on the high side. £28 for CL qualifier, £15 for LC game and now £114 for 3 CL matches. That’s an additional £157 on top of your ST before you buy a pint. And if you go to away games it starts getting ridiculous. Its the price of success folks. Hh
TGM
The whole world is corrupt. In Scotland it happens to be anti Catholic / Irish corruption run by the establishment / masons.
They get away with a lot however consider this. How strong must we be to have taken them on and be in the position where we are becoming a one-club city. And that position is not likely to change for a long time.
It grates me in a big way that they think that they are the peepul, but in reality it only made me work and fight harder to succeed.
We are winning the battle, it’s just taking longer than we all want.
BABISONICOS71 @10 51
Son of Freddie McKay..
TGM
I was brought up in a different part of scotland, the NE is a world away from the Glasgow area, the masons up there are also a different breed to the ones who inhabit your area, it’s more of a business thing where religon really doesn’t play a part, but they are as corrupt in their own way :-)
HH
Kasabian putting on a great show at Reading tonight. Half arsed show they did in Glasgow Green last month in comparison. Leicester gits.
JJ…bet ye it’s a draw ;-))….or rematch
DD chilli….
No spellchecker wiz hurt in the making of this ;-))
Hot Smoked 11.10pm
Hope Mayweather keeps some strength for Sunday morning not sure who he is fighting tonight :-)
TLT
Con carne. ;)
TET – cheers, been a long road.
GFTB- Aye he thinks he’s one of the brighter ones lol.
DD- forgot those other 2, all good ghuys. He was genuine when he said he remembered me well – ” one cheeky bastard!” He also liked Miss Williams for some reason :-)