It is time for our seasonal reminder: the first competitive fixture of a new season is statistically more akin to a lottery than a predictable event; in evidence, we have Lincoln Red Imps and Artmedia Bratislav, two teams who won as significant underdogs against Celtic.
Season 2019-20 starts tonight in a field in Bosnia, where local champions, Sarajevo, attempt to record what would be one of the most significant victories in their history.
Neil Lennon has some decisions to make, particularly in defence, where Christopher Jullien and Boli Mbombo could make their debuts, the latter in the absence of Kieran Tierney, who is still recovering from an operation in May.
The heat has relented in Sarajevo and across Europe from the heights recorded last week, so it will be more like a balmy Glasgow evening than an oven for the Celtic players. Importantly, Neil Lennon has been through a few experiences like this. He will remember the pain of defeats European competition at the hands of Utrecht (4-0) and Braga (3-0) in his first season in charge of Celtic.
Expect the manager and the team to both be ready this time.
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Set up by OE. Unlucky
Maradominic
Don`t you think that a sensational goal is more worthy of comment than is your analysis of our central pairing?
JJ
CalMac over after MJ sets him up
Boli does well
HT
1-1 H T
Mbombo doing Ok. Terrible weather & surface, but they are dangerous on break, All to play for but Happy enough with one all at this stage.
We picked up our game after they scored
Bain has to tell Jozo to leave it,corner and goal for hee haw
I’m happy, tough first competitive game.
Pitch not the best but still some slick passing.
HT Hearts 1 Celtic 1
Tougher tie than some imagined, but Celtic’s class and fitness beginning to tell, towards
the break.
Bosnians taking no prisoners but for a slack moment we’d be on easy enough street.
Like to see the subs getting a full run out
Score prediction 1-3 Hoops CSC
A wee bit suspect defensively ( more chat needed between players ) boli doing ok ,lovely finish from mikey J. Pitch cutting up and players slip sliding away .
Horrible conditions & heavy pitch making some players look like Bambi (not Boli).
We’re taking the game to them & we’ve been on wrong end of 2/3 poor ref decisions.
Their goal – from a corner after we didn’t clear first ball & the ricochet fell to their man.
Wonderful goal from Mikey Johnson.
Hope he’s not injured for 2nd half.
Bolongoli doing fine as LB.
James Forrest chose to use outside of right foot when in front of goal – went wide.
More goals please Celtic.
Celtic will have to try and not give them to many corners their whole team are over six feet tall, but I must say that Celtic are playing well, if Boli carrie’s on like he is doing at the moment he’ll be a future star player.
Decent but cautious start by both teams as they were concerned about defensive slips on this pitch.
We slipped first and went behind- I don’t blame Jozo- he had to take it unless he hears a clear shout.
Sarajevo played into our hands by becoming more open after they scored and we have looked likely since then.
I am still worried about set pieces to them
Our team is lop sided with Mbombo overlapping and Ajer not.
Thankfully, Christie, McGregor and Johnston are a level above their opponents and most of their team mates tonight.
I expect another cautious start by both teams and I would want ralston to appear as a proper RB- let Scott Brown cover for him when he goes forward.
Big Forster available for fk all,ask him the question..
Some cracking forward play first half ; a wee bit composure and we score 2 or 3. Great goal.
The one we let in was coming due to non pick up of runners by SB. If we sort ourselves defensively, we should win this
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D-LmQWAXsAE92MG.jpg
PS loving Boli already
Just signed in. Slept through 1st half. Recovering from cataract removal earlier.
Posting with one eye. Conditions look poor.
Meanwhile in a Tyrone Primary School. 👩🏫🇮🇪
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4YivLQW0AA5QER.jpg
James to bye line after CM and OE came forward
‘GG
Take it easy and get well soon!
We’ve seen the first volley from Boli Bolingoli
Solly!
GOOOAAALLLL
Eddie steady sxores
Yaaaasssssssssss
EDDY
Just like Eddie
Great goal from our non-Centre Forward
1-2 great goal odsonne
Great slo Mo goal!
yessss 2-1 good guys french eddy COYBIG
Any links to the goals please?
Apologies for spelling. Excitement and on,y use of one aye.
Eddie
that edourde is just agitating for a move.
Two defenders sliding all over the place, OE cool finish
Bain poor pass out.
FK Centre just outside our box.