Iceland calls

Celtic will play KR Reykjavik in the Champions League second qualifying round with the first leg taking place on either 15or 16 July.  Celtic are provisionally at home for the first let – but don’t book your flights until arrangements have been confirmed.

KR beat Glentoran 3-0 on aggregate in last season’s Europa League qualifying campaign before losing 1-3 home and away to Standard Liege.  The Icelandic season continues throughout the summer, KR played a league game yesterday and have another three competitive games before meeting Celtic.  Nine games into the league campaign they are three points off the pace.

From what I can tell, it looks like they have a grass pitch at their 3300 capacity stadium, which removes the big complaint from last season’s qualifiers.

This is a good tie for Celtic, who will be physically stretched by a mid-season team, but we’ll be strong favourites.

We were last in competitive action in Iceland against Valur in 1975, when a 0-2 win out there preceded a 7-0 victory at Celtic Park.