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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Right hand side, I mean!
Commentator disappointed they didn’t get a retake.
Zippity doo dah £10 admission to the Open on Monday
Charlie fighting for a start at LB on Wednesday
Eibar wishing Jo Hansen had claimed the spot-kick.
Johansen warming up ?
The wall came tumbling down there
Bailly howler Boyota bails him out
Logan boobs
DB clears off line.
Hero to zero in a minute
Bailey bailed out by boyata
let me retract that – he is the new Julie Andrews!
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
17:31 on
18 July, 2015…..cheers pal.I struggle tae keep up on here,
as I do in real life.
Logan wandering
Bailly misjudged that one
Boyata clears off the line
Great clearance to prevent a goal by Boyata as Bailly makes an error of judgement.
did steffi try to take their pen?
Keeper makes a right james hunt of that, luckily Bhoyata saves the day
Bailly stranded at edge of box and Boyata clears lob off the line !!
Istanbulcelt
” JJ hot smoke, your prize will be behind the bar at the annual Buckie Thistle Dinner & Dance. :-))) ”
So will I. It is my turn this year 0:-)
I keep meaning to go to a Buckie game. I think I will definitely do it this year.
Good save ,Logan . Waited for the taker to shoot them made a smart save.
Boyata penalised for holding……replay shows the opposite
30 minutes gone 0-0
Water break
Not enough movement off the ball.
Heat break
Drinky time
Heat break
I wonder if we will need it on Wednesday in Iceland
Make mine a bud Ronny
A cooling off break?
No needing that in the Burgh today!
Water break.
Time-out called!
Decent game , played at a decent pace.we are misplacing a lot of passes, so are they to be fair. Biton and Brown showing up well, Forrest also…Ciftci and Griffiths off the pace so far.
Tidy assistant dishing out the water bottles ;;))
Ronny telling the players to get the finger out
We have not been great up front.
We didn’t capitalize on early dominance and now look a wee bit ponderous up front
Penalty Save
They have had 2 clear chances we have had one.
We just do not seem to have anything or plan in last third
Whose the miss world in the Celtic dug oot
Keeper just beats LG to ball
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
Pick a game in the summer……