Maribor are currently playing monopoly with the Slovenian league, having won four titles in a row, and have a very settled, experienced, team.
The season before they eliminated Rangers into oblivion in 2011 they defeated Hibernian home and away, who had Anthony Stokes in their side. It’s worth noting that Edinburgh police arrested 30 Maribor fans following a riot in the city after that tie; this lot have an unfortunate reputation for trouble.
They lost away on Saturday, a defeat which was largely a consequence of their defence having a nightmare, however, among others, they rested key central defender, Marko Suler, who Celtic came close to signing four years ago. They were also reduced to 10 men 30 minutes into the game. It’s unlikely they will be so poor at the back against Celtic.
Dare Vrsoc is their creative fulcrum. He also likes to shoot from distance, with some justification. Whoever in the Celtic team is tasked with winning a personal battle with him will have a great deal of responsibility.
If Celtic leave space at the back Mitja Viler will be the player most likely to exploit. He is lightning fast and will have noticed how Celtic lost goals to pace against Legia. The early scare Gary Mackay-Steven gave us on Saturday further emphasises this vulnerability.
Brazilian-Slovenian striker Marcos Tavares, 30, is Maribor’s royalty. He has scored more goals than anyone in the club’s history, but he is a player who has found his level. He has been over the European football course before so will know how to unsettle defenders.
Macedonian international winger, Agim Ibraimi, scored the goals in the last round which got Maribor this far. He had a couple of unsuccessful seasons in Seria A before returning to Maribor. Good player with tendencies to lunacy.
The fans boo boy is goalkeeper, Jasmin Handanovic, who remains in place despite a disastrous last season. Slovenian clubs throw cross balls into the box to put pressure on him as often as possible. Some early attention might turn the atmosphere inside the stadium on Wednesday.
They score a lot of goals from headers: five of the 12 this season, before the o.g. they benefited from on Saturday.
Our man Blaz in Slovenia tells me they are better than they were when they brought the end of days to Rangers in 2011. Last season’s Europa League campaign, when they progressed from a group containing Russian, English and Belgian opposition, before giving eventual winners, Sevilla a fright, gives an indication of what we can expect.
After those performances last season they knew this could be their Champions League year. Drawing Celtic has put them in a state approaching over-confidence. A shift like we delivered on Saturday will come as a shock.
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craigwhitesoptometrist
It’s on Sky Sports 5. Sky Go won’t work outside of the UK without a VPN I use Express VPN when travelling. Tricks the server to think you are in the UK. It costs about £50 a year you can sign up monthly. Easy to install on your phone / tablet.
Proxy servers seem to work but no idea how to set that up. Maybe someone can enlighten you or just Google it.
Good luck! RobinBhoy
All this talk about ‘parking the bus’, I’m not sure we’ve actually got a bus to park, wonder if anyone can recall the last time we successfully parked a bus in away tie in Europe….
A lot of firsts for me on this holiday,
My first time in Dubrovnik
My first time in Croatia
My first time swimming in the Adriatic
My first time drinking Croatian beer
And this morning was the first time I had eaten fresh figs, courtesy of the lady who owns the accommodation.
NB, tonight might be the first time I s**t the bed.
Thanks robin bhoy.
tonydonnelly67
14:12 on
18 August, 2014
I’m in a good place right now
==============================================
You in the Brazen again?
Rwe@14.50
Man bag(sorry big Joe) was standing in the stairwell by all accounts. Hope there was no lateral movement. Hope your son doing well, terrible illness.
Sheik@14.13 and MWD
I asked same question yesterday ,not about time of CAS decision, BUT whether UEFA have to abide by it? Still no response.
amiinvisiblecsc
I
Rock Tree Bhoy
I agree. We pack the midfield and play our normal game. Attack them but keep men as cover at the back.
LB
Had a quick look at the club website and there’s no news of any signings.
Catman will tell us long before the club do anyway.
HH
Rock Tree Bhoy
A couple of people carriers might do the job…
Rock Tree Bhoy 16:18 on 18 August, 2014
AC Milan when WGS was in charge of Celtic.
A brilliant performance, and the wee man was never given credit for his tactics against the team who went on to win the competition.
Pog
Was the woman who gave you the figs called Livia?
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles, if you’re swimming in the Adriatic try not to swim like a seal. That place is riddled wi great whites:-)
timmy7_noted
If you like your ‘gelato’ you should refuse to pay more than €3 for a ‘pokey hat’ in Florence!
…and that’s for two flavours!
Only €2 here in La Spezia.
Tennents Super?!
For some unfathomable reason it is popular over here!
Ps – remember San Gimignano!
HH!!
I’d play young McGregor on Wednesday night for definite. He has scored 2 goals for us in the away games in Europe so far and has been our best player. He shows no fear in these games.
Marti
Appeal thrown out according to Twitter.
CAS appeal thrown out already
We are still in!
Here we go!!
HH
@STVRaman: CAS throw out Legia Warsaw plea for them to be reinstated into champions league. It’s defo Celtic v Maribor #Celtic http://t.co/A0DZohc8vk
Steinreignedsupreme – was that not at Parkhead?
LEGIA WARSAW REQUEST FOR PROVISIONAL MEASURES DENIED
Lausanne, 18 August 2014 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has denied the urgent request for provisional measures filed by the Legia Warszawa SA in the course of its appeal against the UEFA Appeals Body decision of 13 August 2014.
From CAS website…
hrvatski Kim
My paternal granny was called Livia.
A lovely woman.
…and she liked figs!
:-)
HH!!
LEGIA WARSAW REQUEST FOR PROVISIONAL MEASURES DENIED
Lausanne, 18 August 2014 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has denied the urgent request for provisional measures filed by the Legia Warszawa SA in the course of its appeal against the UEFA Appeals Body decision of 13 August 2014.
Gearoid
UEFA under NO obligation to follow any decision of CAS.
An earlier poster detailed at some length the position UEFA took with Sion
If Legia don’t watch themselves they could find UEFA having a word with the Polish FA much like Sion had their collar felt by the Swiss
Timmy7 – what happened at the Vatican? (lights touch paper and retires…….)
Hamiltontim
16:25 on 18 August, 2014
First with good news – well done that man
UEFA rules have definitely helped Celtic, but if it wasn’t for Callum McGregor’s goal Legia would still have gone through.
Well done wee man.
Well, that’s great news- I must admit I was feeling a bit nervous about the outcome.
So, COYBIG let’s take advantage of this opportunity.
Sevconites will be havin severe Sevconitis about this…..bless ’em :))))))
hrvatski JIM
Apologies for calling you KIM!
I know you are not Korean!
HH!!
Breaking – CAS tell Legia to beat it.
Big Peter can bring in another player now. H.H.
Rock Tree Bhoy 16:27 on 18 August, 2014
“Steinreignedsupreme – was that not at Parkhead?”
No. Kaka scored the winner in extra-time. Celtic were denied a stonewall penalty in the first half.
Now we have the good news I feel confident enough to make smug jokes:
Is there a copy of the UEFA Rulebook in the trophy cabinet yet?
APPEAL REJECTED
Away to switch on SSN. They will have the hump an awe after all they did to encourage Legia. Hell mend ’em!
Does anyone think if Legia feel that aggrieved they will withdraw from the Europa League?
As they keep going on about sporting integrity would they not feel that the EL spot should not be theirs and withdraw as a matter of principle?
Not having a go at Legia just interested in the thoughts around this.
LB
didi @didinyc · 30s
#LEGIAWARSAW REQUEST FOR PROVISIONAL MEASURES #DENIED
http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/7690/5048/0/Media20Release20%28English%292018.08.14.pdf …
@STVSport: Celtic will play Maribor on Wednesday after CAS threw out Legia Warsaw’s bid to be provisionally reinstated http://t.co/bnaYrYTaij
Tallybhoy
Can you trace your lineage back to the Claudian dynasty?
If so, you have a very black sheep in the family.
GerryBhoy
Aye, and that lad Richard Wilson on the BBC website will be gnashing the old teeth! He was making it his mission to get Legia back in. I wonder what other avenue he’ll be encouraging them to take next ? Euorpen COurt of Human Rights probably :-)
Great news indeed.
Marti