After losing the second leg against Salzburg in last season’s Champions League 3rd qualifying round, Qarabag eliminated Twente Enschede on away goals before having a good Europa League group stage.
Draws home and away to Saint Etienne, a home draw against Inter after a two goal defeat in the San Siro, and a win and a loss against Dnipro is enough form to suggest Celtic have a match on their hands.
On the positive side, Qarabag are also preseason, play on grass and Baku, their home city, is four hours ahead of Glasgow, so they will have a small jetlag adjustment to make for Wednesday’s game. The final whistle will go after 1:30 in the morning Baku time. Players find the latter part of any big game tiring, more so early in the season, so we have to push hard late in this game. Qarabag will be vulnerable as concentration wanes and legs get heavy.
This tie feels very much like the Shakhter Karagandy play-off tie two years ago. Shakhter arrived with a solid two goal lead, but an impassioned Celtic Park pushed us over the line. A similar intensity will be required on and off the field on Wednesday.
What’s our chances? Not sure, but we’ve a serious challenge on our hands.
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Sanna,
Dublin 2016, will try and raise a few bob for you next year. If anyone has any ideas give me a shout.
Dublin2016@mail.com
HH,
Clogher
Thomthetim
Sorry, just back in….
Been going to gods county since 1970 – where I used to get my haircut in a bar in Mullaghduff. More recently have been in lower Keadue and using Paddy Neallys as our local. Iggy’s was the Sunday outing pub as well as Leo Brennans.
Will have to look up that micro brewery next time over.
Hail Hail bud
Bgx
They maybe lifted the “dig” from CQN today……
fanad
You better not let Burghbhoy hear about the Dutch connection….
you know what he was like with the postman tirades :-)
BMCUWP
He’s a Bawrheid lad so that explains a lot. :o)
BIG cup winners..As a YES supporter i havent bought the daily record since sept 19th last year, after tonight i will Never watch bbc Scotland(joke) ..Again.Barred from my Tv..Blocked.
never again..
RWE
I stand corrected. He must have stood out in Barrhaed like a sore thumb,what wi being able to write.
Tin hat on,and offski!
Clogher celt. Cheers for that. Do you have me on the reserve list for next year ? If not , please add me , sannabhoy@gmail.com
Guys,
Is this first leg on the telly ?
Sannabhoy,
No hassle. Send an email to dublin2016@mail.com,when you have a chance.
Clogher
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles
22:47 on
27 July, 2015
Buckfast
—————
i had the daftest 1 minute experience other day.
los cristianos, mercadona supermercado, , tenerife.
two bhoys go buy, one holding a bottle of buckie,
“told yeese, told yeese, ma big bruv, said it, you kin get bucki ne here”,
happy. off they go to to the till.
remided me of 30 years ago first few visits, getting cans of irn bru in the “safeway”.
wandered up to the drinks aisles.
smirnoff litre 9.95 euros
that bottle of buckie …………………….. 10.95 euros.
ffs.
this generation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofiq_Bahramov_Stadium#/media/File:Neftchi-Internazionale,_2012_(1).jpg
The Qarabag Stadium in Baku for the return leg on August 5.
From Uefa’s website all about Qarabag.
“Also known as Qafqazın Barselonası (Barcelona of The Caucasus), Qarabağ strive to mimic the Catalan giants’ approach to the game. Their play is characterised by an abundance of short passes, long periods of build-up and by players interchanging positions in a 4-3-3, 4-5-1 or 4-6-0 system with no out-and-out striker. Though Gurbanov’s charges tend to attack down the wings, they seldom cross the ball into the penalty area.”
The flexible shapes sound threatening. Away from home, 4-6-0 into a 4-3-3 on a breakaway. 4 Brazilians in their squad.
They beat Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 at home last season but finished the match with 9 players.
They also won 1-0 away in the last CL round against. This youtube is 7 mins of that game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HilbPZZhazQ
COYBIG
So much for the Uefa para’s last sentence.
Their Brazilian forward Reynaldo scored the only goal of the last round from a near post run onto a cross from the wing.
Broken Blog CSC
The King Are You Lonesome Tonight
https://youtu.be/_cS5aCozhcA
Never heard of this crowd before the draw, but you lot are starting to get me worried! I reckon we’ll get past them though, Johansen to keep up his 100% scoring record for the season in competitive matches.
Do you think we could find an Elvis impersonator to sing YNWA Wednesday?
https://youtu.be/OS15y3T9088
cuchulainn
No need to sweat it.
We will comfortably win 2-0
Cuchulainn,
Which part of the Tain are you from? Great to see you posting.
Clogher
Gg
I think Anthony stokes might be able help there. Seem to remember hearing that he knows wan.
garygillespie …. yellow card for that one! (ps … it would have been red, had you not made me laugh!) :)
BELGIUM manager Marc Wilmots has told new Celtic star Dedryck Boyata that performing well in the Champions League can push him back into his squad … just like Jason Denayer.
Wilmots said: “He needs to play more matches and he will get that at Celtic.
“He’s a very good player. He’s tall, fast and technically a good defender. He is still only young, even though we have known about him for years.
“But the problem was that he never got a chance to show what he could do in England. Now he has an opportunity at Celtic.
“He could play in the Champions League with Celtic, which would be invaluable for him. I picked Jason Denayer when he was in the Scottish League with Celtic, so there is nothing to stop him getting into my squad either.
“The Scottish game is a good test for defenders as it is very physical. It toughens players up.
“So my advice to Dedryck is to keep playing well for Celtic and we will see what happens.”
Qarabag have suffered a blow ahead of their trip to Paradise after key midfielder Afran Ismayilov was ruled out through red tape.
The new Azerbaijani international signing is not travelling as he has not had time to apply for a visa.
Neil Lennon & McCartney
I’d hate a player not being allowed to travel due to a technical issue on his visa.
Let the consulate make an exception.
Celtic TV: We are still negotiating rights for Wednesday’s match. Our aim is to be able to show live video outside the UK & Ireland. It may be Tuesday before we can confirm. Thanks
‘GG
Agreed,mate. It shouldn’t be that difficult to get round it.
I hope Stokesie and Griff have updated their passports photies. Otherwise the Azeraijanis might be looking for two bald fellas.
From the Scotsman’s Rumours page
BORUSSIA Dortmund defender / midfielder Kevin Großkreutz could be heading for Glasgow as the 27-year-old accepts his future lies away from the Westfalenstadion.
The versatile player is not part of new manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans, and the self-confessed Hoops fan has suggested he may seek a move to the UK, with Celtic believed to be among his preferred options.
The Dortmund-born star has previously been pictured supporting Celtic at European ties. (Various)
Baldie Bain CSC
According to wiki, Kevin Großkreutz has been a regular in the Dortmund side up till last season when he only made 15 appearances.
5 international caps.
Kevin Großkreutz (German pronunciation: [ˈkɛvɪn ˈɡʀoːsˌkʁɔʏ̯ts] ( listen); born 19 July 1988) is a German footballer who plays as a defender for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.[2] Primarily a right back, he can also play as a left back.
Izzy’s backup?
‘GG
With Charlie an injury doubt we might need some cover at left back.
Darnell, can you play left back and jump like a gazelle to cover high balls to the back post?
RWE
From listening to yer big pal in Reading,Darnell can play anywhere.
I still think he’s a Wanyama type though.
rwe
I think Ronny said Charlie was a doubt for Wednesday.
Implication that he might be ok, so he’s probably fine for Saturday and the rest of the season.
Almost the enchanting hour and I have my grand daughters to deliver to camp in the morning.
Goodnight all and God bless.
PS
Isn’t it great how an upcoming important game stops the trivial squabbles?
‘GG
Give it time,mate…
‘GG and BMCUP
Night chaps.
Darnell and Charlie CSC
gcctim
18:34 on
27 July, 2015
North Cyprus Bhoy, any advice welcome, mhate.
I am planning to take my 13 year old Bhoy to the game next week. We live in Dubai, I am assuming I’ll need a visa from the
Azb embassy in Dubai, prior to travel? Tnx
……………………………………………………………………………
Playing catch up and not sure if you had a response….
AZB consulate couple of doors from Star Metro on Salahuddin St, across from Reef Mall.
Took 4 days to get my visa a couple of years back. Wasn’t exactly quick, quite busy (oil & gas visas) and have to pay cash to bank. Better get moving as Dubai weekend to consider and they’re only open till one, I think.
Check with them if they are arranging visa on arrival but doubt it.
Club had a message up last week referring to visas but you may be too late for that now.
Amazing. One gemme in Baku and there’s Middle Eastern Tims popping up up all over the place.
UnderCoverFeniansCSC
Good morning friends from Deep Sea World, East Kilbride. ‘Nuff said…….. ;-(
I’d rather ALL the opposition players get visas to play in the UK.
Otherwise what is the point of the border authorities?
Imagine if Broony was denied a visa to pay there?