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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Goal 2-1
Joke decision
Unlucky, Logan
thunder….
In a real game you’d have been screaming for it if it was the other way
Goal Eibar. Down centre of goal as Logan went to his left.
2-1
Nice run from Janko
Bit of pace n power
Stokes poor control then concedes foul
Stokesy dips the ref, got his spray
Izzy good defending
Stokes careless
Mon Ref hurry up I need a Guinness.
Geese a break.
Lag feed Stokes. Who beats a couple on edge of box but is blocked
Games opening up
Lindsay doesn’t look out of place
So in the immortal words of Charlie Nicholas, sitting here thinking…
There’s a number of current players with legal judgements hanging over them (Am exclusive here for you tendermeatballs if you’re lurking)
Forrest for his tally wacker tackle
Ciftci for his Nosferatu ‘impression’
Griffiths for his Skacel slur
Stokes for wannering the Elvis impersonator
Izzy for that slick do
Any others?
Been some good kicking from our new goalie
Nice cross from AS Tierney just offside as he interchanged with Leigh
3-1
Cracker from Leigh
GOAL LEIGH
Yes the Griff
“Best striker of a ball at the club” (Ronny Deila)
LG cracker3-1
30 yarder from the grifffffff
What a goal from the Griff
Super Leigh
Smart from LG. Curls low shot in from edge of box and catches keeper out
Gruff looks like one determined individual.
25 yards out past apex of box and Leigh cracked a left foot shot inside keepers LH post.
Excellent goal
Griffith is on a hat trick
The Griff for a hat trick
Leigh well on his way to making a stunning strikes dvd
Rogic is growing on me :)
AS drives into box. Bundled to ground. No penalty.
Ref has bet on Leigh not getting a hat trick
Stokesy denied a penalty after being shiver off the ball refs given enough penalties by the looks of it
Good run Stoke’s possible penalty?
Not given
And shoved
Another wee flare up!