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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C.O.Y.B.I.G
Celtic kick off
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
Where’s everybody watching it, ah’ve goat an Celtic TV??
HH
VVD cuts out cross
CM cross skims of NC’s head
MurdochauldandHay & Wee Oscar
17:06 on
18 July, 2015
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
14:20 on
18 July, 2015
MurdochauldandHay & Wee Oscar
Is that rumour likely to have any substance?
JJ
————————————————————–
JJ What Auldheid said earlier is just about all I know I had seen it on twitter earlier.
whats the rumour ?
Good cross from Charlie Mulgrew from the outside left position.
Great cross from big Charlie
For those who have it, celtic game on Premier Sports (ch 551 on Virgin)
Pensive Ronny wonder why he visited that barber
virgin 551
Charlie gets bang on the head.
Ok people, after that nice story about Barca strips being lent to Eibar , so they now play in those colours. Which Scottish team play in green and white hoops because they were given strips and balls from Celtic in the early 1900’s?
Starry
Premier sports showing it on Virgin 551
Sky you need to pay £10 for 2 month
Sore yin
BT
Found it:)))
Good atmosphere:))
Nir in head clash. Looks a wee bit groggy
Nir Bitton looking groggy.
Bitton heided on the hied
Some of the flats on the far side could be selling executive box tickets.
Football and tapas anyone?
Celtic trying to steal throw in, cheating again :oD)))
was that biton, i thought twas mulgrew.
buckie thistle
Broony squaring up to someone already!
NC heads down but straight at GK
Nae commentary??
Chance for Ciftci, no power in header.
Quality cross from the Griff and ciftci misses a sitter
Nice play out wide and great cross in for Ciftci but header straight at keeper
Citric should have scored from header 8 yards out — good cross from Griffiths
Browny winding up an opponent
Late challenge on Broony
shifty really needs to bury one of those sooner rather than later
Saint Stivs
17:12 on 18 July, 2015
buckie thistle
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah well,
i’m going back to ma bed…
How many articles have Shortie done on Hibs, recently?
Rhetorical CSC.
Nadir block GK kick out
LG shoots as the piper restarts
whoa! Celtic are on the telly!