The incentive for Brendan Rodgers and his players is clear, beat AEK Athens and you will face either Malmo or Vidi (known as Videoton until earlier this year) in the Champions League play-off round.
Malmo, who are 16 games into their league programme, will be slight favourites to make the play-off round. They beat Romanians Cluj in the last round and Kosovans Drita in the first qualifier.
The Swedes were eliminated from the second qualifying round last year by Vardar of Macedona – a stage which did not offer the compensation of a Europa League entry.
Vidi recorded the result of the last round by eliminating Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 on aggregate. They overcame Maltese and Estonian opposition a year ago, before recording a remarkable away goals victory over Girondins Bordeaux. Eventually losing 4-0 on aggregate to Partizan Belgrade.
It all went wrong for Celtic three years ago when former player, Jo Inge Berget returned to haunt us for Malmo. Berget scored twice in the Champions League play-off first leg at Celtic Park in a 3-2 Celtic win, but the Swedes progressed after winning the return 2-0.
Malmo changed manager in June, appointing Uwe Rosler, who was sacked by Fleetwood Town in February, Not a conventional route to Champions League glory.
There are pitfalls if we approach the tie as ill-prepared as we were in 2015, or as Bordeaux were last month, but AEK are by far the strongest team we will face in order to reach the group stage.
It’s all about Celtic Park on Wednesday; the hugest or hugest games.
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Wonder when the referees strike will occur?
Mags
Thick as shecht Steevie Gee does what the Scouse mafia who run Glasgow, tell him to do.
This will end in tears soon.
Wi his “languid” running style (*Surely long-legged gangly galloping style? Ed), Dedryck Boyata is perfectly able to run his own ass to the airport.
?⚽️
Are we really gonna sign Blanche Carter?
Gerryandsylviaanderson CSC
I used to think that lawyering was the major profession represented on here.
Now, I think it must be airport taxi drivers.
He would probably make a mistake getting to the airport, so I would make sure he gets there.
??
HH
D. :)
This Blanch Carter?
Del66
There should always be a Bankie fenian in the Celtic team. John McGinn should be that Bhoy.
Give my best regards to P and S McGinn. Proper family of good Catholic people.
YNWA
think cmcg will be a key player v AEK – his stamina is amazing this season ( the few games we’ve had). I hope with broonie, ntcham, SS and Jamsie that they miss him and he turns invisible. SS turning inside and connecting with OE has been very good – adding cmcg in to the equation could turn the tie in our favour. Mind you we don’t have windass!
So Champions League final 32 in group stage will comprise ..
4x4th place,
5x3rd place,
6x2nd place teams and
11 Champions automatically .. plus only
SIX Champions from the 43 European Leagues involved in 2 months of qualifying ?
And UEFA still call it “CHAMPIONS League” ?
DD, absolutely, no probs mhate
Hail Hail
DD: Small world. Haven’t seen Christy in a while. Don’t know Michael too well but he loves the ‘Tic as well as the St. Pauli.
Will probably bump into them in the Bad Ass soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CJPtWa7MCg
ALMORE
Tha Bad Ass Cafe still the base for Naomh Padraig CSC ? I thought they were finished in there ?
Embdae think Boyata will start? I do…
Blanche Carter is only 21inches
AndHighlyStrung CSC
C,mon Celtic sigm Paddy,and. give us the feel good factor.Fek the CHs,we have enough
Almore
Christy said he has badges to gift the school kids. He gave me three belters. Great guys.
YNWA
Almore
Ps He said he will see you in Bad Ass when you are done wi slummin it in the Costas. ?
Youngest not long home from Bali where she spent two weeks on holiday, with her mates.
GonnaeNoDaeThat csc
JTT53
My dear departed dad Robert would love you. Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash were his favourites. Grew up listening to that pair. ?
Any cheated trophie’s stripped today ?
If not, then who are the real gullibillies ?
Asking for a friend.
Thanks.
HH
Fekin Greeks,theyre fefence will e in bigger ruins than their cities.
Somebody pleade tell that asshole DJ,to play YNWA,at the right time.
Not 5 minutes before the teams come out.WTF is the matter with him.
I am serious,please tell him?
Turkeybhoy- wee Paddy would give the Club a lift, short termists will point to last season, year before he was fantastic HH
You’d think ;
SMSM would have come up with a better option than Aston Villa for John McGinn?
You’d think ;
A manager would have been more concerned with giving ‘the fans’ an update on a player that was away to hospital with a suspected break?
PR67: Bad Ass still the go to place for Naomh Pádraig and Dub Tims.
Lustig all set for Wednesday start.
Turkeybhoy
Wee Patrick is a no brainer. Offer him a five year contract to play beside the two Wizards.
The Wizard of Oz TR and The Wizard of Wishaw KT. All 3 here for 12 in a row.
YNWA
Turkeybhoy
on CL nights UEFA dictate when something can be played over Tannoy
Sure i read no music for two minutes before teams come out.
No Zadoc the priest allowed before group stage
A load of bo11ox but thats UEFA for you
Good luck to all the kids who’ll be receiving their Higher results in a few hours. Particularly those whose parents post on here.
HH
BSR…Pancho Villa…any better? Good friend of the Cisco Kid…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu_YVswb3p4
DELANEYS DUNKY on 6TH AUGUST 2018 9:27 PM
Still took an EBT though eh. Tax bill will have hit by now. Ouch.
DD: Someone giving me badges? That’ll be nice:-) TALCSC
Just watched second episode of The Game on RTÉ. It’s a history of Hurling. Well worth a catch up on RTÉ player.
Did anyone else notice that every Rosenborg ball boy/girl had a ball in hand which was thrown to the player taking the throw in whenever the ball went out of play? Less wasted time. Celtic should follow suit IMO.
D17
My cousin Nicola said something changed in ST’s head when he signed for the huns. No surprises.
Radiohead CSC
BMCUW
You need me to do you a favour?
Anything Mick. Am yer man.
YNWA
WeeBobby
I had a hat like The ole Cisco Kid
MonTheCowboys CSC