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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Well done the Hoops tonight – delighted. I was afraid Ronny would go for it gung-ho but he played them perfectly.
Congratulations to the Bhoys and Ronny for a big-hearted, disciplined and intelligent performance. If either Stefan of James had taken his chance it would have been pretty much a perfect away European showing on a terrible pitch in 30 degrees against a decent side.
Our gaffer is learning all the time. I’m excited, me.
I’ve been to Albania a few times. Not for me.
HH
Great result tonight -disciplined play -on the way home though couldn’t believe radio shortbreads turn on our away tie how macinnes was a better mgr than ronny-a guy ( macinnes) has done nothing in Europe – they just can’t help themselves
Well Richard always thought you were maybe a voice of reason but …GIRUY !!!
JF needs one full, uninterrupted, injury free season. If that isn’t this season, then I’d maybe agree it’s time to look at his future.
Despite having raw talent, JF continues to make bad choices at crucial times.
Other scores in CLQ, for a little bit of perspective on tonight’s performance…
–
4-3 Astana
2-3 Sparta Prague
1-0 Bate Borisov
1-0 Basel
3-0 Brugge
3-0 Malmo
4-2 Partizan Belgrade
3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
2-0 Skenderbeu
0-1 Viktoria Plzen
–
Only Qarabag and Viktoria Plzen (2-1 up from away leg) failed to score at home tonight
–
Outstanding from the Bhoys !
Very relaxed watching the game
We were always in the driving seat
Biton was very good but unfair to single any one out as all played well
Hopefully the group stages beckon,It will be a great boost for the club,the fans and for the much maligned Peter Lawwell’s bonus.
Might even add a player or 2 to the squad if we get through
Tel aviv go 1 up
Johann
Laugh at their stupidness ……
So called crap Scandinavian team Malmo have made the CL group stage more recently than we have.
‘The Herald’ report on Celtic’s game tomorrow :
By the usual suspects : CJ/ML
‘CELTIC IN LUCKY ESCAPE IN BAKU’
Celtic managed despite incompetent play to hold on to its so slender lead to progress in the CL qualifying round. The usual Celtic journeymen struggled against a top class European team who showed the Scottish Champions with their tainted titles what CL football was all about. How Qarabaq managed not to score will remain a mystery for all time. Qarabaq were all over them for most of the game and should have scored many times, only a Craig Gordon average save denying them, the same Craig Gordon who should have been sent off against Ross County on Saturday, and who was stolen from Rangers after training with them last season.
There is no doubt that the gap in Scottish football is diminishing, especially since Mark Warburton is setting the standard at Ibrox. It is so much a pity that the mighty Gers are not in the Premiership which they would have won without a doubt.
Can anyone identify a Celtic player who has the potential of young Tavenrier who will set the heather on fire at Ibrox this year? Of course not.
So Celtic go into the next round of the CL, and going on tonight’s performance can anyone give them a cat’s hell in chance, unlike Rangers in the Petrofac Cup which they will dominate and go on to win superbly.
SFTB
Only serves to highlight our crapness
Imagine bring more crapper than crap ….really crap that …btw
Canamalar ….
I dont mean to upset you, or blow your cover … there are whispers that you are actually a bit of softie in person!) …. But, even if that is wrong, I dont mind poking the bear every now and then! It keeps life interesting… (and just joking on the bear bit!)
I dont think I would ever fall out with anyone on here about football …. life’s too short for that…. I enjoy discuss football, good and/or bad … and particularly love a discussion about the bhoys, including sometimes a healthy debate … and we all see things differently, and besides, its just football … at the end of the day, does it really change our daily lives if Dedryk is better than Denayer? Unless your name is Ronny Deila, probably not a whole lot. so, why fall out over it?
now, politics or the Board, that’s a different matter! I’ll scrap over those issues! (although, even I’m not silly enough to get in the middle of some of the SNP/labout scraps, and I fight with people this for a living!
Hail hail pal !!
Don’t you just love Celtic.
I’m on my second trip to the Co-Op for beer, four on the way home from work for the game, my goodness they disappeared midway through the first half, now I need more to celebrate. What about the team, champions league and all that, well for me we have some outstanding players, Craig, VIrgal, NIr but we stop there, to progress we must invest especially up front and left side, our new No7 just won’t do this year, although during 2016 he may come good. So Perdo it’s over to you, invest and succeed or hold and take a chance, for me and the Ronny experiment the next two CL games are the most important since 1970, win and we have a platform to invest and drive forward, fail and the Ronny experiment grinds to a halt.
My God I really hope we progress.
WITS
Only after VVD is punted and said bonus is trousered ….
Hope we get a decent draw.
And, of course, 60,000 at Celtic Park for play-off game…
or will the ‘stay aways’ still be making excuses?
Ticket Office had better get ready for the complaints.
PFAyr
My whole local screamed, “Forrest ya shoitebag!” When he passed. :)
setting free the bears
And our next three games are against ‘crap’
Tel Aviv 2 up
DD
So did MickTT who was sitting beside me :-))
Eventually logged in.
Here’s hoping we don’t start with Griff up front, Shifty will be more acclimatised.
Thanks in advance to those who keep the rest updated.
C’mon the Hoops.
Feck, this is slow
P
PF
I would love him to stay for the group stages (if we get there) but if he has to go we need to get the maximum possible,
7 million seems too low but but I think anything over 10 will be accepted
Azerbaijan Football
@azfutbolu
Congratulations #Celtic.Good Luck for next matches. It was a great adventure and experience meeting with #Bhoys. pic.twitter.com/w5441WLmGe
JCA … personally, I like Ciftci, and still think he could be vital to us. In general, I am happy with the cross-section of players we have (although, in a perfect world, we would have a better LF, CM and another striker). but, for the most part, I think the talent is there … I just dont think we are getting enough out of the players we have at the moment (at least in terms of attacking prowess…. defence and effort cant be knocked… but, we need better coaching for our mids and forwards).
everyone (players and coaches alike) have strengths and weakenesses .. RD is clearly great at motivating players, and getting them to buy into his fitness regime… but doesn’t seem so great at how to coach a team to attack … I think he needs someone there to help him with this aspect of our team. I have suggested big bad john for the job
Celtic will be seeded in Friday’s draw, which takes place at 11am Celtic Park time, and will be drawn out against Macabi Tel Aviv (Israel), Astana (Kazakhstan), Skenderbeu (Albania), Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) or Malmo (Sweden).
——
Think Belgrade is worst possible from five. Should beat all rest
MiT
Having been at the same school as Canamalar, albeit a few years younger. ;)
Your softie remark is way off the mark. Haha
DAVIDOPOULOS on 5TH AUGUST 2015 9:05 PM
Ciftci probably lost about a stone tonight!
Ciftci needs to spend the next three weeks getting fit and losing that kite
3 seeds have now fallen in this round.
Salzburg
Viktoria Plzen
Steaua Bucharest
This moves Bate Borisov, Dinamo Zagreb and APOEL Nicosia into seeds and means Celtic avoid them.
It’s a choice of
Macabi Tel Aviv
Partizan Belgrade
Malmo
Skenderbeu
Astana
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv CC: 18.200
Serbia Partizan CC: 14.775
Sweden Malmö FF CC: 12.545
Albania Skënderbeu Korçë CC: 5.575
Kazakhstan Astana CC: 3.825
Well first the earth cooled down
And Darwins brother was adopted
Then Jesus bred with the chimps
And the bishops said yeah
Then Celtic came
And John Knox said
Where’s nietchze ?
And we all said
“Celtic ya bass”
Then came Lisbon
And we all said
Yeah!
One day it will happen again
And we all said
3 act of contritions and 2 lawwells
Yeah!
Amen.
Steau out. Farage happy. One or two friends will be looking for a noose.
PFAyr
Had a chat with Ayrshirtim and Ger57 on Saturday about JF. None of us are fans. He frustrates the life out of me. Would like him sold.
RD has done a great job. While free scoring CFs hard to find within our budget, everybody knows their job. Would be great if Virgil stayed now that we have established a settled pattern of play.
Sipsini: Excellent to hear that you will be ensconced in the same establishment as myself and the Trainmisser! I would think that it would be mandatory to partake of a modicum of libation whilst visiting God’s own country on a such an historical occasion as the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. On the other hand I am sure we will have a few swallies!
The next round will easier than this
Our budget must dwarf the rest of the possibles …, some by a considerable distance
DD
You did believe that pair o roasters …:-))
Wow…
what a turnaround from Malmo v Salzburg (3-0 winners tonight, 3-2 on aggregate) & Maccabi Tel Aviv v Viktoria Plzen (2-0 AWAY tonight, 3-2 on agg)… that changes things !
–
If my calculations are correct, then CELTIC (coefficient 39.080) will now play one of these unseeded teams in our final CL qualifier :
–
Dinamo Zagreb – Croatia (24.700)
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Israel (18.200)
Malmo – Sweden (12.545)
Skenderbeu – Albania (5.575)
FK Astana – Kazakhstan (3.825)
–
I would definitely want to avoid Dinamo Zagreb, but any of the others are fantastic draws for us at this stage of the competition…
–
fleagle1888
:)
If you want appalling reporting, try the Guardian:
Celtic cling on… Poor game… Narrow one-goal aggregate… Hung on for the draw…
.
And…
.
“Waiting for them in Friday’s draw are the likes of Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting Lisbon and Lazio.
.
“Remember Maribor.”
.
So aside from the sneering, patronising ill-will, there is the total, lazy ignorance of who we can and cannot be drawn against.
.
Staggeringly bad journalism. Stick to the Boat Race, Hugo.