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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Almore
Will make a change. Gordybhoy64 and I have nicknamed you Santa Claus. ?
BSR…did you wear it in Seville?
WEEBOBBY
We all did.
Off to mo leaba.
According to RTÉ report earlier the Irish Womens’ Hockey team trained together once a week in the run up to the World Cup final.
Both teams who competed in the final played their semi final the previous day.
SúileileCSC
GER57 on 6TH AUGUST 2018 10:34 PM
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.
——-
We do this In Europe only. It is banned in Scotland, only allowed at Hampden for semis and finals.
BSR…must have been a big, big hat.
“When you look at the fact that Rangers in the top flight have never finished second, I think it’s slightly disrespectful to the teams, for example Aberdeen, who have been strong for a number of years.’
Michael Stewart
Ps. emphasis on the word NEVER
DD, I was worried about you. But here’s another song you Da might have liked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTYe9eDqxe8
Take care mate.
Hands up if you didnae wear the Hoops tap in the stadium in Seville. I wore my 2003 vintage that I still wear to special occasions like weddings or christenings.
Who here was in the stadium and didnae wear the hoops. There were a few, but they were in the minority.
Would love Brendan to take us to something like that.
This is how it feels to be Celtic.
Inspiral Carpets CSC
DD
I didn’t, I did have a wee Celtic shirt lilo on my back though ???
Oh
Goooood Evening CQN – ???????
Hail Hail
DD…my hands are up…I have never donned the hoops…ever.
Iamnotworthy csc…
Just seen this wee message
Scott SinclairScotty_Sinclair46m
…Two years ago was the day I signed, the rest is history ? https://t.co/b9Nsx8laBa
Lustig, Boyata, Jozo, KT , back 4 on Wednesday for me
I have just decided that Paranoid Android by my favourite band still playing Radiohead is my song of the day.
God loves his children. Yeah.
David 17
Thanks for the info.
WBC
Never?
Even as a wean?
Would never too that to the Hoops either.
TooFat CSC
too = do
NITOL CSC
What is the bigger loss? AEK losing their captain or Celtic losing Dembele? No doubt in my mind it’s our loss that is the greater.
Throw in the possibility of Ntcham not making it…
JTT53
You are correct. My dad loved the Everley bros and Roy Orbison. He also introduced me to one of my favourite ever bands.
Bob Marley and The Wailers.
YNWA
Guys
Anyone know what the road closures are for Wed night
DD
Awe naw me and Morrissey all wore our hoops that day.
I was asked the other day about the wee song that used to do the rounds on here, it went something like this……
“………today’s the day the teddy bears get their pitch nicked. ”
That was a nice wee song, I wonder why nobody sings it anymore.
Maybe they’ve all sold their souls for £49, and moved on.
Gone are the days.
Oh well.
HH
DD
Don’t cry out or hit the alarm you know we’re friends till we die
Mags
The twenty odd Tims fae Knightswood beside me were hoop wearers. Was a fine sight that night in Sevilla.
Later on we all bought Porto tops and went out drinking in Carmona and sat beside some Tim’s in an outside cafe/bar pretending to commiserate in Portuguese. They were from Dundee. When Awe naw jumped up on the table and started singing Big Bobo’s gonny get you all bedlam broke out and we all went back to the hotel and got stoned
Mags
My dad did not introduce me to The Doors.
I found them myself via the auld magic ‘shroom.
Break on Through to The Other Side. Convinced me that Jim was mental like me.
The Doors of Perception!
DD…entering the stadium that night was one of the most overwhelming sights my eyes have ever seen…
NORRIEM
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=40324&p=0
WBC
Me too.
Thankfully I was sober that day. I took a few photos as I entered my seat. Looking at them now. Magical
DD
I have a video somewhere
DD, I love you, I’m as much a Catholic as anyone who is not practising but I love Our Lord. This is a song I love beyond words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHe_qmo3gX4
Mags
Are you in Glesca soon?
Need a blether wi you and Hugh soon.
YNWA
JTT53
Peace and Love to you my friend.
God bless you and I Jim.
YNWA
JTT53
An hour a week at 10am Sunday to attend Our Holy Redeemer Clydebank is my Catholic duty. I enjoy it.
YNWA
All I ask before I shuffle off this mortal coil is one more European final…where we celebrate as only we can…
Supersutton
I would rather lose Dembele from our team rather than Broonie, esp when we can field Eddie; so maybe AEK losing their captain and midfield motivator might be the bigger loss. Only my opinion.
HH