Two clubs from outside the top five wealthy leagues reached the quarter finals last season but Benfica were drawn against another team from outside the big five, Zenit St Petersburg. Apoel Nicosia eliminated Lyon in the last 16 on penalties (we should be practicing penalties every week between now and then).
Two teams, Basel (who earlier eliminated Manchester United) and Bayer Leverkusen (who eliminated Valencia), lost seven goals in one game in the first knockout round last season. This tournament retains an ability to be harsh and unforgiving at every moment. Leverkusen actually conceded 10 to Barcelona over two games.
Apoel Nicosia conceded eight to Real Madrid in the quarters. The Cypriot team held things together for as long as they could but failed to reach group stage of the Europa League this season, going out at the hands of Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan).
Our seven potential opponents, all from the top five leagues, will each present an enormously difficult challenge but some are easier than others. Our biggest advantage is our own position. Those seven clubs will each underestimate Celtic, we have by far the lowest coefficient of all teams left in the tournament.
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We are enormously outgunned and inexperienced at this level but we know a few things:
We can defend under incredible pressure.
We can score, home and away, against anyone.
We cannot retain possession. This is not a good thing, but it is an acknowledged weakness, so we know not to plan to retain possession. If in doubt, laces through the ball and get into position.
Our opponents will know we have the tallest team in the competition. Height is an advantage until your opponent learns how you use it. During the first half on Wednesday Celtic tried to repeat the corner kick success we enjoyed against Barcelona and Benfica but Spartak had read the script. We will be unlikely to score the same goal again in Europe. A fresh plan is needed.
The Spartak goal is a real lesson. This is not a goal we would have conceded against a far superior Barcelona. We had a 1-0 lead and our entire left flank was exposed, compromising a winning position. We can leave our left flank exposed at Kilmarnock tomorrow but this kind of laissez-faire defending came within 8 minutes of eliminating us on Wednesday and will do so in the next round if repeated.
Penalty kicks determined the outcome of 50% of Champions League knockout ties last season (20% after games, 30% during games). No amount of practice is too much.
Planning for the quarter finals starts now.
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Due to Paul67’s stunning investigative and revealing journalism over the past few years I think he is allowed one faux pas.
Paul67 – Do you think Pedro will feel the desire to open his cheque book due to our progress?
67Heaven – Edward has never tried to hide which team he supports, the clue’s in the name.
Most huns on CQN pretend to be Celtic supporters, writing inane messages they hope will stir thing up before ducking “aff oot”. (thumbsup)
Summa of Sammi
Ps.. Embdy thinks I’m Wrong.. Remember I was the Kid who Told the Blog.. Bruce Rioch would replace BTM..and I Never Revealed the Good Sauce I Knew.. I was On..
>Im not gonna bite today. So keep the insults coming. The decent folks who read this blog know the score.
Good try tho.
kevjungle – murdo’s 30 yds title winning boots 1979
11:40 on
7 December, 2012
Was it his headed goal against the zombies that upset you ..? …..Joe Ledley is absolutely brilliant….
JamsieBhoy
Only kiddin mate,meant to put my kiddin disclaimer up.
If T-Dog is short for hot-dog ,i’m pretty sure wee sleekit has ate plenty o them.hh
izzy
11:48 on 7 December, 2012
I’m with you, bhoy..
izzy,don’t you fekn start ,it is still daylight oot there.HH :o)
.
We can score, home and away, against anyone. Celtic were the only team in their group to score in every game, a feat achieved by 8 of the 16 qualifiers.
..
Proves My Case..
Ed Obviously wrote the Article.. ;o))))
Summa of ProddySchoolsCSC
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
Think Wanyama and Lassad are going to big things. Amborse, i am not convinced yet on him.
Just think strengthening that position beside Wilson could see progress further and success we have had with Scandinavian defenders and now Lustig. Johann will know about Granqvist and Ottesson.
from previous article
Ernie
”To my way of thinking there is no difference between the Rangers Football Club of two years ago and the club as it is today. If you can see a distinction which separates the club from its history, you’re smarter than me. The club’s the same as it always was and the history remains intact.”
Walter Smith 6th December 2012
”We wish the new Rangers Football Club every good fortune”
Walter Smith 19th June 2012
Congratulations! You are now smarter than Walter Smith! FACT!
excellent point Ernie. I for one will not partake in the revisionist tosh that is coming out ibrokes and the media.
Summa if it’s yourself you’re referring to as “kid” might I point out that’s a trifle discomfiting from a man in his late forties.
I might be the minority but i like Miku. Think he’s a smashing player and given opportunity would flourish beside a striker partner. EPL clubs had bid 7 million pound in summer.
Celtic,great result and great outcome by qualifying for the last 16.I believe we have nothing to fear from anyone we can be drawn against.I know we will be working hard to improve and get better and with Neil Lennon and his background staff this will happen.I thought Commons had a blinder.
It would be kind of boring if we al lagreed all of the time? Or does anyone disagree …
philvisreturns
11:48 on 7 December, 2012
The clue is reading between the lines …..if he wants to be luved, tell him to go onto ff……
voguepunter – I know you are m8, just messing with you. By the look of The Fat Controller he ate Battersea Dogs Home:-)
gordon_j backing neil lennon
11:54 on 7 December, 2012
LOL
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
I agree.
Yes, mistake corrected. Thanks for the many reminders.
Gordon_J, aye, but tops seeds cannot face either.
KevJungle, who?
mearns 2 milton, if the right player at the right price becomes available I am sure we will move.
Gordon the only people I’ve ever come across who could rival Celtic fans for disagreeing amongst themselves are the Dutch.
Gordon_J – I agree with you. (thumbsup)
67Heaven – The clue is reading between the lines …..if he wants to be luved, tell him to go onto ff……
On the other hand, if he wants to be Louvre’d, he should go to Paris. (thumbsup)
WGS
Not another Solvi debate…
jamsiebhoy
11:25 on 7 December, 2012
Sorry mate, no record there, I have had a 4 in a row. I’m sure others have had more;-)
an tearmann
11:54 on
7 December, 2012
He certainly did ……. But every player gave his all……except big FF….. I thought he had a very quiet night……..LOL
Izzy
Keep posting mate!
Keep it lit!
AND….
Keep on supporting Celtic.
God bless mate.
I wonder if football agents ever post on here?
Johnny Russell’s for example? :-)
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
11:54 on 7 December, 2012
It would be kind of boring if we al lagreed all of the time? Or does anyone disagree …
____________________________
I am not so sure about that.
philvisreturns
11:57 on 7 December, 2012
LOL……
Ntassoolla – Gordon the only people I’ve ever come across who could rival Celtic fans for disagreeing amongst themselves are the Dutch.
Clog-wearing, tulip-munching jackanapes. (thumbsup)
Paul67
Doon in my estimation Paul , but…………
“Without mistakes there is no forgiving. Without forgiving there is no love.
-Mother Teresa
If it’s good enough for her…….
.
Izzy..
Jeezo.. I did Not think You would Bite there..
The Olde mask Well Slipped there..
Summa of TheOldeDoubleBluffCSC
Headtheball
Just maybe
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
11:50 on 7 December, 2012
kevjungle – murdo’s 30 yds title winning boots 1979
11:40 on
7 December, 2012
Was it his headed goal against the zombies that upset you ..? …..Joe Ledley is absolutely brilliant….
____________________________________________________________________
Lets get this straight….2 years as Celtic midfielder and he’s scored 2 goals v’s the huns and that should tell me what ?
What it does tell me is that – you don’t look at the BIG picture.
What about the 2 sitters that he missed v’s Killie in the LCF that we lost ?
What about his 2 sitters in the SCSF v’ Hertz that we lost ?
doc is neil lennon – I thought at one point that I had the blog all to myself. Then I realised I was just a sad chasing podium git.
Note to self – get a life.
Good article, Paul.
May I just say, as a Potteries-born Celtic supporter who has a strong attachment to his hometown club, that a team with great spirit and cameraderie, tall, committed and well-organised defensively, who excel at set pieces, can manage on scraps of possession, and are willing to “put the laces through the ball and get into position”, sounds eerily familiar.
Perhaps Neil might add Professor Pulis to his list of go-to Welshmen.
A serious point: Stoke played in Europe last year, for the first time in a generation. They did very well at home until they met a good side – Dinamo Kiev nearly prevailed, but retreated in the second half into a defensive shell and conceded from a corner. But Valencia stood and fought, and – like all the CL survivors – had the toughness and physical courage needed to enable their technical superiority to prevail.
Generally – and a much-overlooked point – the good teams in the world, not just in England, are full of big strapping lads. Most EPL teams have a fair few players built like cruiserweights. Technically proficient but strong too.
Good article, Paul.
May I just say, as a Potteries-born Celtic supporter who has a strong attachment to his hometown club, that a team with great spirit and cameraderie, tall, committed and well-organised defensively, who excel at set pieces, can manage on scraps of possession, and are willing to “put the laces through the ball and get into position”, sounds eerily familiar.
Perhaps Neil might add Professor Pulis to his list of go-to Welshmen.
A serious point: Stoke played in Europe last year, for the first time in a generation. They did very well at home until they met a good side – Dinamo Kiev nearly prevailed, but retreated in the second half into a defensive shell and conceded from a corner. But Valencia stood and fought, and – like all the CL survivors – had the toughness and physical courage needed to enable their technical superiority to prevail.
Generally, the good teams in the world, not just in England, are full of big strapping lads. Most EPL teams have a fair few players built like cruiserweights. Technically proficient but strong too.
The Secret Agent of Johnny Russell
I knew it! LOL
Just received this from a friend in Milan who is an avid Celtic supporter.
I hope that Celtic avoid the thieves of Juventus in the next round. They have the help of referees and Platini.