Spain has always been a hard shift for Celtic. We started our European adventure in the old ‘Fairs Cup with a 4-2 defeat to Valencia in 1962 and lost on our first five visits until the rarest of things – an away result in the 1980s against a team we knew! That was a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in 1985, although the return leg at a behind closed doors game at Celtic Park brought the return of 80s European form.
The 80s and 90s were largely a write-off for Celtic in Europe. Things didn’t change until the arrival of Martin O’Neill brought Celtic into the moder era. We were not back in Spain in competitive action for 16 years, when Valencia edged the first leg in a tie we eventually lost on penalties (Rab Doulgas saved two but Henrik, Stiliyan Petrov and Joos Valgaeren missed).
Then came our purple patch in Spain. A 2-1 second leg defeat to Celta Vigo in 2002 was enough to see us through on away goals. The phrase “European competition at Christmas” was on everyone’s lips, the first time we had uttered it since 1979. Thousands of us travelled to Seville for the Uefa Cup Final that season, when we were denied in controversial circumstances.
In March of 2004 19-year-old David Marshall put in one of the all-time great Celtic goalkeeping performances to secure a 0-0 second leg result in Barcelona, enough to see us through to the Uefa Cup quarterfinal. That tie sent us back to Spain and a second leg defeat at Villarreal, dreams of a second successive Uefa Cup semifinal ended at the feet of the brilliant Riquelme.
We were back in Spain in November that year, back at the Camp Nou and again returned home with a draw, the first time we took an away point in the Champions League. 2004 was the highpoint for Celtic in Spain.
Since then we have suffered nine defeats in nine visits, uniform results, although they fall into two distinct eras. We conceded only six goals across the first four visits, scoring twice. On the last of those occasions, we were denied a point by a final minute goal in the Camp Nou, a result which ultimately cost us top place in the Champions League group.
Then it fell apart as the Catalans seemed to have our measure. Visits to Barcelona saw us concede six in 2013 and seven in 2016. Brendan Rodgers said his goodbyes after a 1-0 defeat to Valencia in February 2019. We ensured a bizarre defeat to Real Betis early in the Ange Postecoglou reign, allowing a two-goal lead to slip. Ange took us back to Spain in last season’s Champions League, we attacked with vigour and lost convincingly.
Even a draw tonight would be an historic result. I had no expectations other than a defeat to Atletico at Celtic Park two weeks ago, so what do I know? The guy cleaning the office windows just told me we’re going to win 1-2, that’ll do.
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“In the least surprising news of the day, it has been confirmed that Irish and Scottish people love pints.
137,000 pints were sold during Ireland’s World Cup fixture vs Scotland, destroying the previous record of 90,000, set at a Metallica concert.”
————-
Wonder if BRRB’s was there. 🥃🍺🤣
HS
The sheep 🐑 are away to PAOK Thursday, that’s why.
HS- Aberdeen play a European game on Thursday
Rumoured team
Hart
Johnston
CCV
Phillips
Scales
Taylor
O’Riley
McGregor
Forrest
Maeda
Kyogo
HOT SMOKED
Celtic v Aberdeen is on Sunday purely for Sky Sports live broadcast.
Aberdeen can’t play on Saturday, at they are playing a European Conference game on Thursday…..
Hot Smoked, Aberdeen are playing in the Conference League on Thursday.
That awkward moment when you’ve to demolish your £200,000 Spa
bsr,
she is some piece of work that yin
just “forgot” to get the planning reuest wording correct,
given the cause they raise money for . lest they forget indeed.
Good evening all from Vincent’s Bar, Benidorm old town.
Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
GREENPINATA @ 2:47 PM
137,000 pints were sold during Ireland’s World Cup fixture vs Scotland, destroying the previous record of 90,000, set at a Metallica concert.”
———-
Apparently Metallica were distraught at the news their record had gone.
When a sympathetic interviewer reminded them of all their other achievements they simply said.
“Nothing Else Matters”.
Chilly day. I’ll get my coat.
As for tonight, been wracking my brains all day, looking at form guides, preferred formations, injury updates, expected goals trends ….
…. In order to predict the outcome tonight.
I’ve narrowed it down to three possibilities ….
Win, lose or draw.
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
“Giz-a-job?”
Enter Sandman. 😉
BSR
Not a good idea to deviate from planning permission even if your dad was famous!
Thanks for the information re Sunday fixture Bhoys.
Celtic Youth Team down 4:0 after 75 minutes- they are working hard but completely outplayed.
anyone help me, why are the nationalists wearing white roses in parliament today ? what does it symbolise ?
HOT SMOKED on 7TH NOVEMBER 2023 4:26 PM
Thanks for the information re Sunday fixture Bhoys.
———–
I can predict that the “sold out ” fixture will be attended by 58.600 with a tolerance of 300 either way.
anyone believe there was 58,100 there against st mirren ?
capacity 60,440
SAINT STIVS
All victims of conflict regardless of sides
ta,
is the white poppy out of favour ?
I am watching the state opening of parliament.
while never being a fan of the royal family per se, i do think old brenda got a lot of sympathy from those in her age bracket and those who grew up with her as the queen,
i do think Charles the tird will be the last of them that we pay for .
what a big fat waste of money all there occassions are.
Yip , before the red one was high jacked.
BRRB – You treat your good lady to a good break. She is a saint and dont forget the pub/restaurant reviews.
Have a good break.😎👍🥂
D :)
Pretty sure Griezeman and Morata have scored nearly all of Athleticos goals this season so stop them and we have a chance. If only it was that simple. Still they lost at the weekend and they haven’t had it easy in our CL group, in any of their games. Lets hope that continues. Think we are capable of a goal, ideally in the second half to go ahead….. Anyways hope we can play at or somewhere near our best.
Neil Lennon co-commentating on Radio 5, so at least someone who shares our hopes. Nae Pasaran!
I predict another draw tonight.
1-1 sounds about right.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 7TH NOVEMBER 2023 5:28 PM
I am thinking along the same lines…….surely we both cannot be wrong ?? :-))))
lets just no get tanked.
Whoops. Neil Lennon is commentating on Radio 5 alright, but is on the Dortmund – Saudi match.
Great version of YNWA from the Yellow Wall, much appreciated by our Neil.
Game on RTE 2 for those who can get it.
Currently about the same time until KO as there is after that `till the end of the game :-)))
Well there was when I started typing :-)))
Need Feyenoord to beat Lazio
FWIW I’d go with the following team – assuming we’re going 4-3-3
Hart
Johnston
CCV
Phillips
Scales
O’Reilly
Holm
Turnbull
Forrest
Kyogo
Palma
However, I fully expect Calmac and Taylor to start even though they are not being picked due to their form
Its no doubt going to be a long night. I often think that watching Celtic in Europe reminds me of the kids toy -Buckaroo. You gently place 13 items (I’ve just looked it up) on the donkey hoping that it doesn’t buck and scatter the items everywhere.
You’re saying “great, that’s 9 – I’ve only got 3 more to go. Yes, that’s 10, this is my personal best.Just 3 more……AH FFS!!!”
I’m thinking of the needless free kick MOR gave away at Feyenoord in the 45th minute followed by the car crash defending by Kyogo and Hart, the disallowed Palma goal v Lazio and then the double whammy of the injury time goal conceded and finally Taylor conceding a penalty v Atletico.
What time will the donkey inevitably buck tonight? 🙄
Teams up
Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter Vickers, Scales, Taylor, Bernardo, McGregor, O’Riley, Kyogo, Maeda, Palma
Subs: Bain, Lagerbielke, Phillips, Yang, Tunbull, Holm, Oh, Tomoki, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh, Mikey Johnston
surprised he’s starting Taylor – he’ll get mauled. Scales would do a job at LB and provide areal cover defensively and offensively.
We are due a bit of luck in Europe but I dont trust the refs and Uefa.
Looking for a respectable result, League more important. Ange feekked up last night by not subbing the clown who was on a yelloe and saves up reds ! Fingers crossed tonight !
Good luck Celtic,
Hun alert