Give me Cluj, Jullien time

While Celtic go through the motions in Estonia tonight, Cluj take a one-goal lead to Tel-Aviv to face Maccabi to determine who we face in the next round.  Cluj enjoyed a 1-0 home win over Dinamo Bucharest on Saturday.  Dinamo have not won a point or scored a goal in their three league games this season, so that win was little more than functionary.  The Israeli season has yet to start and Maccabi had the week off in preparation for the second leg.  Including friendlies, Maccabi have played only five games this season.

Neither team are as strong as AEK Athens, whom we met in the third round last season, but I would prefer Cluj to progress, possibly due to the fright we got the last time we were in Israel against Be’er Shiva.

With little at risk, tonight is a perfect opportunity for Christopher Jullien to make his competitive debut.  Five games across the next four weeks will go a long way to determine the outcome of our season.  We will need a solid central defensive partnership to succeed.  Christopher will need to get match fit in a short space of time.