The winners of Celtic-Cluj will face Slavia Prague in the final Champions League qualification round later this month. Slavia reached the Europa League quarterfinals last season, eliminating Sevilla – who practically own that trophy – on the way.
They also disposed of Bordeaux and Genk before losing to eventual winners, Chelsea. Dinamo Kiev knocked them out in Champions League qualification.
Although this will be Slavia’s first Champions League qualifier, they have played four domestic league games already, so are likely to be as fit as Celtic, should the sides meet in two weeks.
Two central defenders at the heart of that Europa League run were sold this summer (both heading to Belgium), with much of the money (€4m) going on a creative mid Romanian, Nicolae Stanciu (26), brought home from Saudi – a significant investment for a Romanian club.
Two years ago Slavia were knocked out at the qualification stage by Apoel Nicosia (another team we could have been drawn against today), while Anderlecht eliminated them from the Europa qualifiers three years ago. Viktoria Plzen, who finished runners up to Slavia in May, reached the Champions League group stage last season, where they finished behind Real Madrid and Roma, but above CSKA Moscow.
Slavia and Plzen showed enough last season to indicate that Czech clubs are dangerous, but this is the playoff round and we were always going to need to work for it.
Cluj first: no injuries, no suspensions, please.
233 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- »
Bada
Been out all morning – just got in to see Root being dismissed. Weather looks fine for the afternoon so Australia big favourites
One in the eye for brother Pom.
Far more significantly , rehabilitation for the those trying to recover from the shame.
Sevco miss all the big guns again.FFS.
Bada………earlier.
It’ll end up Kilmarnock’s fault……..
The huns were just “celebratin”.
HH.
We did play them in a friendly under Rodgers 0-0.We played them off the park.They kicked us off the park.
McKenna hands in transfer request on the same day Big Jozo agrees terms with Lille ?
Bankiebhoy- the roof was obviously far too weak,and the Safe Working Load of 1 hun only was exceeded
bankiebhoy1 on 5th August 2019 1:36 pm
———————————————————
That’s exactly how the Record reported it. All Killie’s fault.
TURKEYBHOY on 5TH AUGUST 2019 1:31 PM
Sevco miss all the big guns again.FFS
______
Don’t you mean Midtjylland miss all the big guns?
I wouldn’t be surprised if big Erik & Co beat them. Then it could be Legia who are usually no mugs.
Taking the potential tie versus Slavia Prague out of the equation.
I have said previously, and will state again, the Czech market is one we should be active in.
Whether its Slavia Prague, Viktoria Plzen, Sparta Prague… they are good sides. Technically sound players, and even their very best players, would fall in to the affordable bracket.
We should maybe be having a look at these teams in our right-back search.
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 5TH AUGUST 2019 12:54 PM
You are right we did beat Rosenborg, Beer Sheva and actually Astana as well after having the home leg first.
However, in 2 of those ties we needed 3+ goal leads from the first leg to go through. I’m always more confident with the second leg at home!! The away Beer Sheva and Astana games were awful to watch.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/05/report-lech-poznan-in-talks-to-sell-celtic-linked-gumny-to-italy/page/1/
would be interesting to know whether we are genuinely searching for a right-back.
Or is there delusion at Celtic Park, that Alhamed and Ralston will do.
Defenders away : Gamboa, Izzy, Boyata, Benckovic, Lustig (Likely K.T)
Defenders in : Alhamed, Jullien
Don’t need to be a Mathematician to conclude, that we are short in the defenders department
https://twitter.com/Moravcik67_/status/1158069889967542273?s=08
Some info on Slavia Prague
Q.3 and the Play off round were always going to be hard. I don’t think we got the toughest team in either draw so I am grateful that we have been given a fighting chance.
However, we have to be good over 4 ties to qualify.
We only need to be bad in one of those 4 ties for us to fail.
The infamous equal rights employer Harland and Wolff goes into Administration. Huns are having a helluva bad spell these days.
Well, well, well…
Even the Falkirk/St Mirren fans are revolting;
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4565822/rangers-fans-sing-bill-leckie/
Finally a Billy-boy you can agree with.
I know we’re getting ahead of ourselves with talk of any opponent after Cluj but I think its just Paul’s way of announcing who the next round has thrown up against as possible opponents.
As for Slavia Prague they have a huge connection to Celtic.
Johnny Madden from Dumbarton played in Celtic’s first ever game and he scored 49 goals for us in 118 appreances on the way to winning 3 league titles & one Scottish Cup.
Johnny moved on and settled in Prague where he became the most famous football coach of Slavia Prague.
The team won 4 league titles with their Dumbarton coach and he has been dubbed the “Father of Czech Football”.
Here’s a link to that
https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/scots-abroad/around-the-world/former-celtic-winger-who-became-15611172
Here’s a link to the Celtic Graves Society who visited his grave in 2017.
https://www.magzter.com/articles/1516/219388/58fa0eeaae2a3
HH
Still no TV coverage for Wednesday yet…
Bada / Henry………..
Yup.
Sadly, Yup!
HH
Bada
has premier sports not confirmed it on their website?
Bada
BT sport are showing CL games but haven’t specified which one(s)
Given the squad was ” too big ” anyway, we’re unlikely to equalise the numbers we had, anybody that saw the ‘occasion’ and the game, on Saturday shouldn’t be worried about a delusional a ‘Celtic football recruitment team” unless you are cherry picking.
Boli Bolingoli, ( another signed defender ) played well on Saturday, but the real star, until injured, was of course Hatem Abd Elahamed pilloried on the internet along with his unpopular agent, before a Celtic fan except Neil Lennon had seen him play recently.
Go tell- nothing yet,as Gene posted, BT saying live CL hame but not specified……someone Tweet big Sutton and ask him if he’s going to Romania 😆
HENRY JOY on 5TH AUGUST 2019 2:07 PM
The infamous equal rights employer Harland and Wolff goes into Administration. Huns are having a helluva bad spell these days.
*************************
I think it’s just the Holding Company that’s having… err… financial difficulties. The shipbuilders should be okay. The Holding Company will just be put into liquidation, as they cannot pay their creditors, then the shipbuilders can carry on as if nothing happened. It’s a standard business strategy for Firms like them
🍀⚽️
meanwhile…………..
In ither news?
“Ra Big Shipyerd Must Stay Opin!”
Australian star bowler Lyon,wearing No 67 jersey…..
Bada
Looks like rain 🤔
Anderson can hardly walk….
The optimist in me sees us getting past Clug and Slavia Prague.
The pessimist in me sees Rodgers coming in for Ajer.
Hoping to see Ajer lining up for us in Champions League group matches :-)
BSR
Perspective is what you are looking for.
Let’s not get carried away with the St Johnstone performance and result.
It was a mixture of us being very good, aided by a deplorable St Johnstone team. And they were exactly that.
Stronger tests lie in wait. Cluj will be a good gauge / barometer of where we are at.
Cluj not Clug- that’s how i played football
Gene- 122/8 on Day 1,and win by 255….
Ruggyman, I agree sterner tests lie ahead but it is no harm to give a bit of credit where credit is due. We have sauntered through two European rounds & our first SPFL game scoring 19 goals & conceding 2.
When has that happened before, by all means be cautious but if you can’t let yourself go a bit and acknowledge & celebrate our first 5 games then where is the joy or the purpose in following Celtic at all.
Ruggyman
Do you seriously think Celtic haven’t looked at these countries for players ?. They have kit that beams back EVERY game in Europe and obviously have scouts/connections all over.
HH
Bada
It’s the 122 for 8 in the first day that will make the loss even tougher to take.
The loss of Anderson didn’t help and Jason Roy is never a test match opening bat.
On to Wednesday COYBIG
Well done Australia, Team England lose which will put their gas at a low peep not to mention all at SKY, MOM Steve Smith
So Jurgen Klopp think it’s unfair for them to be opening their campaign on Friday – poor soul
Just as well they don’t do CL qualifiers
Dessybhoy
That’s the bonus