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.
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Good luck to all the school weans today waiting on their results.
Remember kids if all does not go as planned, it is not the end of the world. It is important to talk to someone.
Parents- encourage, love and develop💚🍀💚🍀💚
Hail Hail
D. :)
Good morning, friends, from a pretty grey and dismally damp but still mild East Kilbride. This time tomorrow there’ll be no more sleeps ;-)
Good morning CQN from a very sunny Cluj. There were about a dozen Bhoys on the flight last night including Paul the Tim. All a tad subdued – probably because of the delay. 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Bada
I see Celtic have reported Cluj to UEFA over their pricing.
Wonder how much we are charging them?
Can’t be any more than the £26 we are being charged.
Vale Bhoy
Apparently £36 for us and a fiver for home fans
Interesting comments from Lenny about Cluj not being blessed with great flair but being a very functional and effective team.
They are in great form but I’d say we will be heavy favourites to progress, avoiding any calamities at the back tomorrow night being key, score an away goal or two and we will be fine.
HH
Gene,
Yes, Bada posted that last night.
I wondered if they were charging us £36 because we were charging them that.
If Celtic have reported them to UEFA, it would suggest that they are at it.
So have I got this right? Celtic are complaining about a football club ripping off Celtic supporters?
Brassneckpotkettleblack CSC
🍀⚽️
Hunderbirds
Not quite – Celtic are complaining that our supporters are having to pay far more than home ones to watch the same game
In ither news……………..
” Crowd issues at Rugby Park ”
:0
Oh aye………………bear-faced, sleekit, guff.
DAVID66 on 6TH AUGUST 2019 6:36 AM
Good luck to all the school weans today waiting on their results.
Remember kids if all does not go as planned, it is not the end of the world. It is important to talk to someone.
Parents- encourage, love and develop💚🍀💚🍀💚
Hail Hail
======================
Cheers David – WeeBGRC is due to get his Higher results today – waiting for the traditional mail rather than the early text message. Currenty sleeping soundly in his bed :-))
We’ll let everyone know how he gets on – comletely agree with your sentiments though. As long as the weans try their best.
HH and good luck to everyone awaiting results.
BGFC
I’m a wee bit concerned that the tone of the blog is a bit dismissive of Cluj. They are not world beaters but they are the best side we’ve played since Valencia last Spring. If we are not “on it” from the off, Cluj could easily knock us out.
I’m very pleased with the team on the park so far. but it’s not easy to play 8 qualifying matches without one bad game, especially at the start of the season.
Morning CQN’ers… how are we all today.
Whether you are upper, lower, or smack bang in the middle of the Bingo.
Everyone have a good day.
And the plants n flowers will be fine. Ample rain, even in Burnside.
On a negative note… just seeing the abuse Chris Suttons young daughter had to endure from the dark side. Atrocious, and beyond the pale.
Sooner that club dissolves for good, the better for society on a whole
GER57 on 6TH AUGUST 2019 9:28 AM
No need to be concerned, Neil Lennon is in charge and he will not take Cluj lightly no matter whether some fans on a blog do!
I think we can be confident without being dismissive as you say.
HH
Koscielny is having a medical with Bordeaux. Not sure what it means for KT.
On one hand its a big wage off the books. On the other, it means Arsenal need a new CB and less focus will be on LB.
They are heading into the new season with Chambers, Sokratis, Mustafi & Rob Holding. That’s a bit grim.
Of course, the Record say this is a “boost” to the Tierney deal.
If we defend competently and make Cluj work for their goals then we’ll be ok. I fancy us to come through this tie unbeaten.
As for Prague – they’ve been knocked out of the CL qualifiers by Anderlecht, Apoel and Dynamo Kiev in the last three years. We should be full of confidence. The CL is there for us.
When we played Boavista in 2003 semi-final my ticket was €80. When asking directions to our section I showed my ticket to a home supporter pointing at the stadium plan. As he gave me back the ticket he noticed the price, he looked shocked.
He showed his ticket to me …. €8.
We had about 5,000 at game @€75 mark up = €375,000.
Celtic complained , UEFA fined Porto €35,000.,
UEFA kept the fine, Boavista kept the profit,
Nothing more to see.
We were too focussed on going to Seville so we didn’t make much of a fuss.
( It was worth the €80 to be in Porto that night celebrating our win with Porto fans out in the street also celebrating their win)
I dont know anyone on the blog being”Dismissive”of Cluj.I would not be dismissive of Hibs or Aberdeen.Think we all know they will be like most Eastern European teams.Well organized and tidy with the ball.The fact is,we have better players all over the park,but like every game,we have to play well.For me personally,Nir Biton has to start in midfield.His calmness and retaining the ball will be vitalHe is also a lot harder than many people think.
Still nervous though..
With the news O’Donnell has refused a contract at Killie,does anyone think he would be good back up for El Hamadi,if the price was right.His contract is up in the Summer.Watched against the Huns and he was OK.
Can never decide on this guy.
Turkeybhoy
It’so from me. He’s Killie level and hardly an upgrade on Ralston.
It would be a lazy signing from us.
It’s a No….
sticky keyboard….:)
TURKEYBHOY
Its a yes from me . I think he would be ok as a squad player.
Turkeybhoy
He wouldn’t let us down.
The thing is, if we are talking playing 2nd fiddle to Elhamed, then we would need to consider what profile of player would be accepting of that role. And someone like O’Donnell perhaps fits the bill as back-up Right-back, and overall good squad player.
Don’t think we will or should sign O’Donnell.
The lad only has one big contract in him so I hope he gets a move to the English Championship.
The guy is an international – He wont play 2nd IMO
WeeBGFC: Ádh mór inniu. And to anyone else waiting on results. Leaving Cert. results here out next Tuesday.
You see,thats what I mean about O’Donnell.Opinion divided,but what do we know.Being a right good Tim,and playing for Celtic,could give that edge.Would need to see him play for us.Catch 22 situation.Compare his price to Jenkinson,supposedly going to Forrest.Ach,who knows.
Hello, this is WEE BGFC. Thanks David. Hope all the other exam folk get what they need.
Keep the Faith. :))
HH
Hello this is WEE BGFC. And thanks to Almore as well, tis much appreciated. :D
HH
TURKEYBHOY on 6TH AUGUST 2019 10:38 AM
Jenkinson is on wages outwith our reach.
I’d rather bring back Adam Matthews than sign O’Donnell. 6 months ago I would have thought O’Donnell was a good idea. I watched him play for Scotland against Cyprus and he looked utterly lost. He had no idea what to do with the ball when Scotland wanted to dictate play.
We have a huge squad. No more fillers please.
Haven’t we just tried to fix this problem by ridding ourselves of this ilk. Let’s not kick off a new round.
TIMALOY29
In fairness to the lad, he was being coached day in and day out by Steve Clarke.
Turkeybhoy
Two ends of gthe spectrum – SPFL underpaid mediocrity one end and EPL overpaid players the other.
Somewhere in between is a market where we can compete and get better value for money – the rest of thw world.
We need an overhaul in our scouting whihc still seems scattergun.
O’Donnell picked up two assists with no goals last season. Five assists and two goals the season before that. He also picked up five assists and five goals in his season with Partick Thistle.
His attacking play has regressed. Maybe that’s due to coaching.
But I believe he’d be another Paul Telfer. Solid enough at SPFL level but he will be the guy the opposition will stand off. He will slow moves down.
Buy a right back, Ralston is a decent back up, O’Donnell is a Rotherham type player, nowhere near good enough IMO
Timbhoy- I was sorry to read of your health issues ,hope you are on the mend.
TIMALOY – agree a free Adam Matthews would be better than a million buck, second choice Steve O’Donnell.
Suspect we will make do with the seemingly handy Hatem to see if we make the group stages.
And (tin helmet on) only if we sell KT or qualify will we re-invest in any more 5m+ fullbacks.
HH
PAULOTELFERICSC
QUADROPHENIAN on 6TH AUGUST 2019 11:11 AM
I agree we will probably wait and see if we make the group stages. Things will also become clearer in the market when the English window shuts Thursday.
We will know where we are with KT. Also, English clubs will know exactly where they are with their squads so you might see some loan moves etc.
I would like to see Celtic go for a small speedy fullback in the mold of a young Izaguirre. Hatem is the more physical option but it would be good to have a guy who can fill in as a wing-back type.