Celtic turned in a mature away European performance this evening as the subjugated Qarabag in the heat of Baku. Chances were at a premium for both teams. Qarabag were reduced to hopeful shots from outside the box, while Celtic took an hour to fire their first real effort, but had the best two chances of the game.
Celtic were nervous looking in the opening 15 minutes, as they struggled to retain possession, allowing Qarabag ample opportunity to build attacks. Midway through the first half Craig Gordon attempted to punch with his left hand but missed and, fortunately, the ball hit his right hand and fell to safety.
29 minutes in Qarabag’s best player, Almeida de Oliveira forced a save from Gordon from outside the box but although the Celtic keeper had to stretch to reach it, it was a save he would have expected to make. A minute from the break Nir Bitton attempted an audacious chip from the halfway line which the keeper backtracked to stop.
10 minutes after the break El Jadeyaoui had the first attempt of the game which was made inside the box but Gordon saved easily. Then Gary Mackay-Steven drove across field before passing to Stuart Armstrong, who took a step inside the box before shooting over the bar.
On 66 minutes Qarabag found a man in space inside the box for the first time but by the time El Jadeyaoui took a touch Dedryck Boyata was on hand to block.
Seven minutes from the end Stefan Johansen made his trademark lung-busting run into the box to assist Armstrong but Stefan was a tad ahead of the pass and ended up shooting wide while stretching back.
James Forrest had the best chance of the game four minutes from time. He ran at the Qarabag defence from 40 yards out, rode one challenge, and found himself clean through with the keeper to beat but instead of shooting from 12 yards he tried to square to Griffiths (who was never going to get the ball) and the chance was missed.
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From what I’ve read about possible opponents in Friday’s draw I would take a trip to Albania or Sweden. We should be capable of beating any team from Albania over 2 legs and Malmo from Sweden are not doing too well this season in the Allsvenskan – defensively weak (from what I hear from my Djurgarden friends in Sweden) – and currently in 6th position.
Corkcelt and Ziggydoc
Thanks for explaining, I didn’t know the Europa league set up has changed
Will be cheering the bhoys into the Champions league groups though :-)
Hail Hail
excath
Neil Lennon said he’s a rare talent, he just made the wrong decision to pass.
At least he’s lost ‘the always injured’ tag, pity his confidence is so low.
Beefy
“Supported Ronny fully.”
Oh Aye! Calling for his head if he loses a game is full support now?
TR
As we spoke about at the game on Saturday, I don’t want you becoming famous when you are deid, like most artists. You deserve the recognition now, and the big riddy that accompanies that fame.
DANIEL FERGUS MCGRAIN CELTIC LEGEND
Thank you.
Hail Hail CQNers
What a grown-up performance from the Celts tonight. Man of the Match doesn’t come into a show like that. Every player played their part and worked their nuts off. From Craig Gordon to Nadir Ciftci they all accepted the responsibility of seeing Celtic through to Play-Off Qualifier.
This bunch of players are doing the business and the management team must also be congratulated for the contribution they are making.
COYBIG
Bring on the next round.
Hail Hail
Good professional performance tonight. A goal would have been nice, and we did make chances, but job done and that’s the main thing. Bitton and Boyata were best for me, but some good performances throughput the team.
.
Now back to the league. Glasgow’s second team away in the derby on Sunday
If we draw a team from Albania, will they let Danny McGrain in?
Comparing the defensive performances against Legia last year with tonight, could it be due to the increasing influence of John Kennedy as an up and coming coach
I have to admit I am biased, but I think yes
Whatever the reason a mature defensive performance away in Europe is a rarity for Celtic, long may it continue
I thought in the c first leg stefan was constant l y involved with opponents all over the park. This contin u ed tonight.
Commentator then saidc h email knows them well from two recent internationals against azerbajan.
naybe More Than Mm eels theceye
Well played tonight, I thought the tactics were spot on. Job done, happy we have at least another eight games to play in Europe. Looking forward to it all. There is a lot to be grateful for.
Enjoy it, but don’t take anything for granted.
Onwards and upwards, COYBIG.
So what riches will Celtic be playing for in the next round ? This game suddenly becomes the biggest potential earner in our history.
UEFA has announced increases in the Champions League prize money fund from 2015-16 season and the increase is pretty significant with 50% increase in the “Participation Bonus” which is guaranteed for all 32 teams. Currently every team who qualify for the group stages of champions league gets €8.6 million but with the new increase it will jump to €12 million for each and every 32 teams.
Champions League 2015-16 Prize Money Increase:
There is also 50% increase in winning bonus on every group game win which jumped from €1 million to €1.5 million, while incentive for reaching first knockout stage will get all 16 teams a massive €5.5 million compared to €3.5m currently.
There is also an increase on Quarter final, semi final and final prize money. So a team winning Champions League in 2016 can pocket around €55 million just in prize money plus of course the “market pool money” So if a English team were to win Champions League in 2016 they can pocket in the region of €100 million from prize money and market pool only. Gate and commercial receipts will increase this.
If the unthinkable happens and we fail to qualify, then we gat £3M from the pot.
The game’s gone mad, I tell you.
HH
Belarus or Hungary please. Sick to death of crap Scandinavian sides. Zagreb best avoided. All ties are manageable however.
Ooooh…
Malmo v Salzburg is in the balance… Malmo 3-0 ahead tonight and 3-2 on aggregate, but have just had a guy sent off… if Salzburg score, they go through on away goals !
I bet they wish they could do it the Ronny Deila way – 2 games, no goals conceded
:)
Talk of wanting Malmo next round
Not for me. If they get there it’s by knocking out Salzburg after losing 2-0 in Austria
No thanks!
Trip to Armenians for me
CLINK\O/ on 5TH AUGUST 2015 8:48 PM
Seeing as the clock was stopped for the water break and there were no trainers on the pitch. Very few fouls etc.
So where did the 5 minutes of injury time come from
Thaats exactly what we were asking while watching the game . the only answer we could think was that the clock didnt stop during the water breaks ,
no idea where 5 minutes injury time came from……
having said that dont care now :-)
HH
That should be 3M Euro not £, if we don’t qualify.
Great result …great effort in difficult circs
If Ciftci is the answer …I don’t know what the question is ….
Job done Celtic
Need to improve finishing for next round, but must be happy with outcome tonight.
Banana skin avoided.
HH
CRC
MIT,
Have you no been watching ?
Yer no allowed to disagree with me or I’ll eat yer family raw :) at least that what I’m told :)
Naw pal, if refs done their jobs right we’d be watching a much better sport, their inconsistent interpretations ensure corruption is always going to spoil the game, no one wants the ref to be involved but they are there to make sure there is no cheating, ignoring cheating is what destroys the game.
thereyeaareCSC
Nytol
Clink\o/- never sat on a fence in my life, well once when I skipped into Hampden when the new turnstyles went in!
I was very critical of Ciftci but thinking in a more measured way now, still think he could come good. Chasing the ball isn’t his game, but he has something to offer. Still needs to lose a couple of pounds though…
I thought Cifcti was very good tonight – not quite the Samaras role up front but good hold up play and knows how to win a free kick
Izzy was also excellent, along with Boyata VVD and the MOTM Bitton
If Forrest had shot and missed folk would have been calling for him to pass
Saint Stivs at 8.59,
couldn’t have put it clearer myself ;-)))
Well done Celtic
Next round please
<3
Unbeleivable Team Effort CQN Mag
celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=17905
Russian rebels going through. Bad result for Fenerbache who have spent a lot of money.
With every match we look much more like it and really of the potential teams we meet which of them wants to come to our place? We need luck in the draw of course. Also karma went all nutty last night as Rapid pumped Ajax. Magic. HH.
Thunder Road,
No it is a great job. Mrs C said it might need fadas. Almore is the man for that.
Other than that, it is great.
If we have time later we might look at those that went over from the UK, to take part.
http://youtu.be/Lgf-IbRPCqU
Clogher
well done ronnie and the bhoys, safe journey home
Looking at the possible opponents the champions of Belarus look the strongest team. I see they play in blue and have just won 9 in a row, but, given we currently have a Swede and a Norwegian in our team, I reckon we could master Bate.
Larrson & Brattback
If you know the historyCSC
..PFAYR SUPPORTS WEEOSCAR on 5TH AUGUST 2015 9:08 PM
If Forrest had shot and missed folk would have been calling for him to pass
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Agree no matter what he did someone would complain.
HH
Well played, especially Izzy and Bitton. Forrest was daft to look for the pass, that’s a lack of confidence for you
3 league games now before next European game
Should be much better prepared and settled for this
Hail Hail
Send JF out on loan somewhere, he’s not improving
8 more European ties Guaranteed Magic,
When I rewatch that with the nerve factor removed ,I will see that it was a stroll in the park and they had 1 good long range chance in 180 odd mins, Defended well and mission accomplished Well done Ronny & the Bhoys. Ps knowing how much the Huns and the SMSM are spewing is just a fantastic bonus .
Piety.
Humility.
Obviously it is going to be sort of good to be dining with the so-called elite again.
We are the meek and the humble, the righteous and the charitable.
The virtues that the Celtic Football Club shall bring to the top table – and here, we belong at the top of the top table.
Astounding.
HH.