If it’s a choice between a trip to Macedonia or Azerbaijan, Celtic would doubtlessly prefer the former. Baku, where Azerbaijani club Qarabag reside, is not as far west as Astana, where Celtic played two years ago, but it’s east of Iraq and it’s not a city which appears in many tourist lists.
Rudar Pljevlja returned from Baku midweek with a 0-0 draw. In days gone by that was regarded as a great away European result, but the lack of away goal will much of the second leg is played on a knife-edge.
One large note of caution, Qarabag went out of Europe last season by a one goal aggregate margin to Red Bull Salzburg, who lost in Baku, but won in Glasgow a few months later. They have twice eliminated Polish opposition in the last five years.
My hunch is that Celtic are better than each potential opponent, but if we’re short of fitness or preparation, we’ll have more trouble than we want.
The good news is that neither club plays summer football, so they should be no better prepared that Celtic. Rudar finished competitively in May, Qarabag a week later, while both played their first competitive games of the season on Wednesday. From what I can tell, both also play on grass, so we’ll avoid the Scandinavian bounce.
Before concerning ourselves too much with the 3rd Champions League qualifying round we need to use today’s game against La Liga side Eibar to sharpen fitness, and take care of business in Iceland on Wednesday.
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Wtf stokes
Anyone have any ideas about wee Hendo?
play Efe up front!
Corner Eibar. Or I bar even
Shot well over. Logan not troubled
Stokesy playing mind games :)
What a day…. had to ordered to miss out in the Ayrshire day out today. En route to Dumfries in the middle of nowhere and hit a pothole… two punctured tyres had to get the car and us lifted back to Ayr…now a coup of hundred pounds lighter. Told the blonde one I’d have been cheaper going oot…. ducks as cup heads my way..!
Ayrshire is Green and White and holy…
Nor careless LOGAN SAVES LOW
Good stop Logan.
Well held by Bailly – looks confident
Good run Forrest again
Final pass
Said it before- Efe the best athlete we’ve got. Use him in the right position (defensive mid in front of a back 4, no ultimate resposibility) and we’ve a real star player.
Well held keeper
Great run from Forrest
Great run again from jamesie.
They cannot handle him when he gets going.
Look at Logan’s movement there. Covered every inch of space to stop a goal.
Got away with a watch there
They like a flop this Eibar team.
As soon they lose possession they fall down.
Almost 1-1
Danger in our box. Strange defending. Stokes ricochet lets Eibar in on goal
MickTT
18:18 on 18 July, 2015
What a day…. had to ordered to miss out in the Ayrshire day out today. En route to Dumfries in the middle of nowhere and hit a pothole… two punctured tyres had to get the car and us lifted back to Ayr…now a coup of hundred pounds lighter. Told the blonde one I’d have been cheaper going oot…. ducks as cup heads my way..!
Ayrshire is Green and White and holy…
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Missus was going to take the weans to Dumfries Monday – not now she ain’t. Killer roads.
A wee bit careless for last couple of mins.
micktt
You can fix a Car, glad your okay. Now flying Cups, that’s a different matter…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I’m not watching our game but going by the updates , Eibar seem to be as niggly as Sociedad were last week.
I hope our future Ballon D’Or winner did his customary goal celebration after he scored.
Eibar threaten again GK
Our midfield has not reappeared for second half
Brown breaks up danger on our bye line
They have upped it since the goal.
Wee Cotter having a decent game
Forrest has had some good moments but not enough.
He has the tools but seems to lack the mindset.
Misplaced pass SA. He’s been quiet
Penalty
Pen
Penalty
Penalty. Celtic as LG harasses GK
Penalty Celtic
And keeper booked
Stokesy and the Griff create a penalty
LG scores