Despite the slenderest margins between the teams over two legs, Rosenborg failed to lay a glove in earnest on Celtic in Trondheim last night. James Forrest, who likes a goal in the qualifiers, connected wonderfully with a shot from a right angle which was visible only on rebounding off the back of the net.
In a sign of things to come, Celtic were composed in possession, even deep inside their own box. This desire to take a touch and find a pass wasn’t entirely successful. Rosenborg pressed high regularly, forcing Craig Gordon into unmeasured passes to the wing.
Kieran Tierney was magnificent, especially in the first half, when he maintained a high position on the left. This gave Celtic their most reliable route to attack.
Rosenborg sprung forward at halftime, causing Celtic some consternation for a period, although Gordon was never stretched. Brendan Rodgers had the luxury of bringing Leigh Griffiths off the bench; Celtic didn’t look back.
Don’t think things are going to ease up. That 1-0 aggregate score saw us enter the final minutes able to concede once without the threat of elimination. That wasn’t the case in either the third or fourth qualifying rounds last season. I hope we’re back in the afternoons for penalty practice.
While we are one tie away from the Champions League group stage, we are also on the brink of making it out of Pot 4. If Sevilla, Napoli, Liverpool or Olympiacos exit the competition and Celtic progress, we will be in Pot 3 for the group stage. Olympiacos are in the champions section of the draw alongside Celtic, but they went out of the competition to Haopel Be’re Shiva last season, who lie in wait again this term.
Sevilla, Napoli and Liverpool are all in the non-champions group, where tasty opponents Nice and Hoffenheim await in the non-seeded section. Sevilla make a Gaudi-esque art form of going out of the Champions League in the qualifiers, to let them concentrate on their main purpose in life – dominating the Europa League. If we take care of our own business there’s a decent chance we’ll move up the rankings.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to our Mary’s Meals appeal yesterday, and to Intelligent Car Leasing, who made the magnificent offer of 4 hospitality tickets for Saturday’s league opener against Hearts. The winner was informed by email a few minutes ago – so check!
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Corner Dons
JOBO BALDIE on 3RD AUGUST 2017 7:18 PM
Aberdeen struggling ti string 2 passes together now. But still just need the one goal.
Or maybe a few more flares…
Yorkbhoy,
I did wonder if a better tactic would be to lose a 2nd goal to encourage the flares!
The last strip worn by Romalegend wee Francesco Totti has been launched into space.
If only the Cellick board had a scintilla of that imagination they could have arranged a similar tribute to the great Emilio.
Great performance last night. Our possession in the first half must surely be the most dominant we’ve had in a long time for an away leg.
I thought Sinclair’s workrate was immense. Jozo looking impressive but Bitton at centre back is a non starter for me. I know we got a really good keeper for nothing in Gordon but at times his new ‘passing’ from the back is woeful. About 6 times last night he gave away possession with his left footed attempts to find a Celtic player.
Would like to see a better centre back/right back and forward.
GMS looks like a mass murderer wi that haircut
Some time wasting going on…
Is the tie oh so slightly swinging towards Aberdeen…..
Anybody got virgin get on channel 281,good Celtic man getting the ground force makeover,watched it loads of times
Up yo Del Boy
2-0 Apollon. Looks like game over.
Dons done
Doesn’t change what Aberdeen needed to do. 1 goal still required to stay in the tie.
Oh what a shame, nae luck Aberdeen:)
HH
6 minutes added.
Sheep The Faith
They’ll get one chance here.
Fair bit of talent on display. None of it on the pitch mind you.
Big-Cup_Winners – and that was it, headed straight at the goalie.
That was it.
We have to abandon the parochial mentality when Scottish teams play in Europe huns excepted.
The only way Scottish football will improve is by competing against European teams and abandoning the gitintaethem philosophy.
I wanted the Dons to win for the betterment of the game here.
Only then will we be an attractive league for good young players.
If Christie’s studs were a centimetre linger…
Celtic fly the flag on our own.
Then there was one .
Jobo
Sounds like something my missus says
Shortbread just announced an hour of mourning.
Pity, i was really, really hoping that Aberdeen could do it:)
And im sure Scotland will cheer Celtic on in the Champions League:)
HH
2-0 final score.
aberdeen were poor, and i haven’t seen anything from them to suggest they can get any closer to us this season, especially since Christie can’t play against us.
Looks like I’ll be the only one in the office watching the UEFA draws tomorrow :-)
Fan
If the huns decided the morra that they wanted to play football, let players play, the referees would change their tactics in a heartbeat.
That’s the sad reality of things in scotland.
HH
Disappointed the Dons have gone out – doesn’t reflect well on standard of our league.
Fly the flag
Aww naw….
….. Sevco an’ The Sheep can concentrate on the league now.
Ahahahahahaha hehehehehehehehe.
Aaah.
:-)
THETIMREAPER on 3RD AUGUST 2017 7:56 PM
Shortbread just announced an hour of mourning.
Never mind. They, and the rest of the Scottish media can get right behind us now, as Scotland’s sole standard bearers in Europe………………………..won’t they…?
Everton game on ITV4 for anyone needing a fitba fix
Fan-a-tic,anybody but Celtic!remember that
Fighting in the stands
The Dons might have fared better if they drew the first leg 0-0 :))
Glad Aberdeen went out, gives the Scoddish Meeja loads to write about.
Celtic might get a passing reference if they get to the CL Final.
HH
Chelsea fans?or the GB?
1-0 Holland :0)