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
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Happy Birthday Weefra
HH
Ernie my youngest son is on the spectrum
It’s not something to be smart about
It wouldn’t be like you to say anything daft on here ,would it
I wouldn’t wish what I’ve gone through and especially his mother on anyone
JNP 7.44pm
Thankfully my sister still lives in the house we were all brought up in, might nip up the loft over the weekend to check the old programmes, I know for a fact there was a programme that night it was my first “real” memory of our team :-)
Poor comment
Z … sorry your team didn’t make it to the CL …. I would have loved to seen them on TV and their Tifo’s broadcast around the globe.
Weefra … happy birthday.
Weefrethetim many happy returns, hope your having a smashing birthday
Hail Hail
saddened reading the pages today since club, who will be making north of £30m, have decided that the loyalty of the fans is worth nothing more than ripping every ounce of Sterling out of the fan base. An extra what, 600K over last season. The roots of the club are so readily forgotten by the PLC and it appears so many fans. Football becoming more and more for the elite, like concerts and other entertainments.
All I will say is for all those being priced out of the game right now, there will in time with this PLC that those more fortunate right now will become the targets of financial increases that will have even them questioning the club. Honestly, the sooner the better then maybe those fans will feel the difficulties others less fortunate are having to deal with.
It is disgusting TBH.
MWD
MWD
Prices were lowered in recent seasons. still not as high as the high point. why do you love hammering my club?
are you an agent?
In the sixties the match programme on European nights would have at least one page in language of the visiting team.
Greetings from Riihimäki in Finland. Youngest Bhoy starting an Erasmus year in exchange from Dundee. A wee bit pricey for the beer but not as bad as expected. Not had a bad beer yet, much better than Denmark IMHO. Oldest Bhoy also just moved to Cluj in Romania last weekend. New CSC’s on the cards.
First time in Finland and never been to Romania. So next port of call ;-)
travellerscsc
MIKE IN TORONTO
Thank you. We got what we deserved. It’s our poor form that is shock to us, not an early exit. Anyway, I will watch Celtic in the Champions League.
MIT 7.48.
You have,but certainly worth another listen.
Gregory has a fine fine voice, I love artists who put their on interpretation on songs too.
I’m doing this through memory You send me was Sam’s first big hit and was originally a B side, also the originally lyrics were only You send me, you thrill me in the second verse was only added at the last minute, good decision.
Hail Hail and hopefully see you next month.
Saidy Janko up against Neymar in PSG v St Etienne tonight in Ligue 1 (live on BT Sport 2)
0-0 after 15 mins
Zbyszek. 8.00.
I too was sorry to see Legia put out. Having a player sent off in the first half didn’t help you.
What was the final total raised for The Polish veterans?
I think what The Legia fans have done is,fabulous and is,deserving of a much bigger audience.
The UK press has ignored the story.
Hail Hail
munich booked for 2nights
no digs sorted yet.. anyone know best area to look at ?
very tough draw we got but may aswel enjoy it.. would be delighted with 3rd and go at europa after christmas
PSG pen and Janko very lucky not get a red
£114 for three CL matches is a competitive price. I wonder what the other teams in the UK are charging, would imagine it would be more, especially the London teams.
Our tickets will sell out, and that is good. Hopefully the atmosphere will be like the Man City game, which i thought was exceptional.
However i realise that £114 is a great deal of money to a great many people and I do feel a bit uncomfortable with the pricing. Supply and demand, yes i understand, but for a start the concession price should be much lower.
I also feel uncomfortable and frankly sad about wining and dining in fashionable pubs in the Merchant City etc and seeing the poverty only yards away. Unfortunately this is life and we cannot help everbody or change everything. But that is a topic for another day.
But the minimium i would expect on CQN is empathy for those of us who are priced out of games.
HH.
PSG 1-0 good penalty. Look as if they are playing in second gear at the moment
Weefrathetim.
If you are lurking.
Happy Birthday.
If you are not,hopefully Mick will tell you that you received a few happy birthdays from CQN. (That’s as hint for you Mick) :-))
Hail Hail
Janko tugs Cavani in the box and he tumbles to the ground. Silly challenge. Cavani converts penalty to put PSG 1 – 0 up after 20 mins.
2 mins later Cavani crashes to the ground looking for another pen after no contact. Hope our defenders are watching this !
Greenpinata
The ‘Middle Class’ dont do empathy:)
HH
It would be circa 55 years ago that I got my first taste of European football at Celtic Park following a memorable introduction at Hampden – the 7-3 European Cup Final between Real and Eintracht.
Like SoT – I recall little of being taken to the Valencia game by my Aunt and Uncle (good Dennistoun Tims) and some of the 1963/64 games.
What I do remember was my first European game as a 14/15 year old where me and my pal got to go on our own – MTK Budapest (watched from the Jungle).
3-0 up (and a missed penalty – Bobby Murdoch?) and the anticipation of reaching a final only to lose 4-0 in the away leg.
The next few years were painful – losing to Barca then Liverpool at the semi-final stage (never offside)!!
Then 67!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seville 2003 – proud but heartache.
I’m eternally optimistic – I hope to see one more European Swansong before they drag me off to ‘Boot Hill’ and divide my meagre spoils! :-)
St Etienne should be level – keeper saves with leg after 1-on-1
Greenpinata. 8.07.
Good post, I thought Thetimreaper made a good point.
The cost of tickets could be less expensive but they are not OTT.
However there is very little discount for concessions, which makes it difficult and expensive if you go with 2 children. You can hardly say look you can go to Ross County, Hamilton and Killie, but not see 2 of the best teams in the world. That would be cruel.
Hail Hail
So what price should Celtic charge for CL matches? I would pay £35 to start.
St Etienne having some chances against PSG but their finishing is rubbish..
Looking at Chelsea and Man Utd ticket prices they start at similar cost to Celtic. Chelsea have better discounts for OAPs and children
Nothing better on a CL night especially seeing all the smiling young Celtic fans of the future…. watching many other fixtures in CL nights our future is our kids… only an observation
Ron Bacardi
“So what price should Celtic charge for CL matches? I would pay £35 to start.”
I’d pay a lot more than that for a starting slot but I don’t think Brendan is mad enough :-)
JIMMYNOTPAUL
The target was sum close to GBP 100 000 and was hit in 24 hours.
Celtic should start by charging concessions at no more than 50% of the main ticket. The standard price should be no more than £30 and I would prefer less. Pitch the prices for who we are. We are not EPL and should not justify prices because they charge ridiculous prices that reflect their debt burdens and over cooked football economy. Those who sign up every season to fund the basics should be rewarded when we hit the jackpot…
HH
SFTB …. dont be telling PL then,… if he thinks there is money to be made, HE might just be!
better get your trainers on, and get match fit!
:)
PS… I was going to offer to be your agent … standard 15% fee, but not sure how that works if you are paying to play! We better run this by the players union first.
OAPs and kids a tenner. Show your values. If they happen to be ‘rich’ OAPs or kids (???) there could be a concession fund they could contribute to by choosing to pay full price. That goes towards the ‘cost’ of the concessions…
HH
When we played AC Milan in 1969 a stand ticket was 40 shillings or £2 which according to moneysorter.co.uk is currently worth £23.02.
When you consider the wages paid to players nowadays, policing, comfort levels (ahem) and the other costs associated with the UEFA parasites I suppose £38 is not too bad.
TB/10:43 am,never mentioned ‘Gobbling ‘ but you did
Based on the Official UK Inflation Calculator:
Season 2017/18 – typical 3 match package @£114-00.
Season 1966/67 Lisbon – under £7-00 = £107-00 increase.
Season 2002/03 Seville – circa £75-00 = £39-00 increase.
Season 2012/13 Barca 2-1 game – circa £102-00 = £12-00 increase.
Relative?
First Euro game I remember, on tv, was Jimmy Johnstone getting kicked off the park by Athletico Madrid in ’74. First I attended was Honved in’88. The one and only time I went on the road was Verder Bremen the same year. The only sober people on the bus were the driver, a 12 year old boy and me. As far as I know, one of our bus conveners still thinks he was smuggled into Belgium, sitting bolt upright in his seat, covered in a tartan traveling rug. Just before he got irresponsibly drunk on the ferry, he handed his passport to a friend to look after. Said friend then let him believe he had lost it the rest of the trip.
Saidy Janko’s back pocket….keys, change, Neymar.