Echoes of 2003. You can take them, Brendan

658

European Union flagBayern 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…

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NEW CQN PODCAST – PAUL DYKES PRESENTS WITH FORMER CELTIC CAPTAIN ANDY LYNCH AND SPECIAL GUEST PAT STANTON

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658 Comments

  1. Would love to go to Munich but it’s during the feckin school holiday week.

     

    Drove by the stadium and it looks amazing. Hopefully get to one of the others.

  2. Munich is a great city, food not so great :O) but everything else amazing.

     

     

    They even have football specials to and back from the ground, was pretty mental coming back from the match.

  3. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Floyd Mayweather Age 40

     

     

    Conor Mc Gregor Age 29

     

     

    The longer it goes , the better for Conor.

  4. Delaneys Dunky on 26th August 2017 12:36 am

     

    Beer is our food in Munich.

     

    Might try a sausage and more ale. :)

     

     

    Currywurst from a vendor good, paying for a sausage in a restaurant not so good. Can’t go wrong with steak :O)

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    Macjay

     

     

    It is all a con.

     

    Fake fight. The public have bought this farce.

     

    All about the yankee dollar.

  6. Delaneys Dunky on

    The Huddle

     

     

    The best steak I can remember eating was in Bremen, Germany. Good shout pal.

  7. Delaneys Dunky on

    Gutenberg

     

     

    The founder of Becks brewery was an Irishman. Loved working in Bremen. Full of good Irish, Polish and German friends.

  8. DD

     

    I didn’t work there but had, shall we say, a wee romantic interest.

     

    She had a season ticket for the Weser and they played in Grun und Weiss so it was a good match.

     

    Actually got a great story about a game v Bayern but too long for tonight. Some other time.

  9. Delaneys Dunky on

    ACGR

     

     

    Sipsini and I are together for a week in Munich. Do you think Celtic will score in Allianz Arena before us pair do in Munich? ;))

  10. Delaneys Dunky on

    Gutenberg

     

     

    The Bremen burds preferred my green and white hoops to the green and white stripes of Werder Bremen guys. :)

  11. DD

     

    Yip, pretty socialist outlook and got us and our culture.

     

    Took my burd to Paradise a few times and she loved it. I’d guess she’s still spreading the word.

     

    They would love us to beat Bayern…

  12. Delaneys Dunky on

    Gutenberg

     

     

    Bremen is a working class city. Raw boys

     

    I loved it. Similar to Glasgow I felt.

  13. HH Fholks!

     

    Thanks for a great Friday night read back and tunes!

     

    Checking out for a wee bit. Cat 4 Hurricane Harvey coming on real strong now. Got 30” of rain and 125 mph wind headed this way next couple of days.

     

    Any SE Texas Tims…..keep yer heids doon and stay safe!!

     

    TC45

  14. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    GUTENBERG on 26TH AUGUST 2017 12:33 AM

     

    Macjay

     

     

    It will only go on if Mayweather wants it to.

     

    ==========================================================

     

    Eleven year age diff. ?

     

    We shall see.

     

     

    :-)

  15. a quite brilliant night in the GREENOCK CELTIC tonight.

     

     

    thanks to GREENLION2 for the hosting.

     

     

    PFAYR and CRC for the table sharing.

     

     

    and

     

    JIM CRAIG LISBON LION for the most wonderful sharing of being a celtic player,

     

     

    great company, great night,

     

     

    keep it lit

  16. A CEILER GONOF RUST

     

     

    evening.

     

    is there any plans for a johnstone collective cqn night out ?

     

     

    i told my pal tonight about pedrocaravachio, and they might be connected.

     

     

    up for next night out arranged

  17. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    DELANEYS DUNKY on 26TH AUGUST 2017 12:39 AM

     

    Macjay

     

     

     

    It is all a con.

     

     

    Fake fight. The public have bought this farce.

     

     

    All about the yankee dollar.

     

    ============================================

     

     

    The Irish will get some dollars too.

     

    Normally I wouldn`t be the slightest bit interested , but my boy is into it.

     

    Not to mention the G.B. and their banner.

  18. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Stivs, I’d love that to happen but I think it is up to you and I to sort it.

     

     

    You know where I am before every home game, join me and we can get Cat man and my wee bro in the same room…..:_)

     

     

    HH my freind

  19. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Stivs, email me at acgr@outlook.com

     

     

    Macjay, aye. I hope the kick boxer batters the shite oota the boxer

     

     

     

     

    HH bruv and off to my luv chair. Not ma chariot

     

     

     

    Celtic

  20. Delaneys Dunky on

    Macjay

     

    It is Hollywood bullshit.

     

    It is fixed by the mob.

     

    McGregor is a stooge.

  21. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    DELANEYS DUNKY on 26TH AUGUST 2017 2:17 AM

     

    Macjay

     

     

    It is Hollywood bullshit.

     

     

    It is fixed by the mob.

     

     

    McGregor is a stooge.

     

    ============================================

     

    You may be right , mate.

     

    I wouldn`t know . I`m sceptical about the fight game too.

     

    But , he`s an absolute terrier in the ring. That I do know.

     

    Irish youth are behind him.

     

    That`ll do for me.