Sturm Graz arrive in Glasgow today in good domestic form. They sit top of the Austrian league, three points clear of RB Salzburg despite playing one less game. Salzburg won 10-in-a-row before Sturm took the title in 2024, then winning again last season. A win this term would confirm Salzburg’s decade of dominance is well and truly over.
Results in Europe have been mixed. A 5-0 capitulation in their Champions League playoff first leg at Bodo/Glimt was a blow. This was followed by another trip to Scandinavia for Europa League game one, where they lost 2-0 to Midtjylland.
Their Europa campaign got back on track with a 2-1 home win over Newco Rangers earlier this month, but that result flattered Sturm. Despite being the away team and going through turmoil, Newco had more shots, more on target and more possession. Sturm scored twice early on and were able to hold out for the second half. If Russell Martin could put them under pressure in Graz, there is fragility to exploit.
Their top fee paid this summer was €2m, which they spent three times, bringing total spend to €6.7m, which is slightly more than the €6m they took in from player sales. A Ferrari, they are not. In any normal times we would be confident of Celtic collecting three points tomorrow. Let’s hope the mood in the squad lifts before then.
Curious fact. Since that infamous tie against Celtic in 1984, Rapid Vienna have won only five league titles and just two this century. Rapid Karma.
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I thought Celtic had a game tonight but, a quick scan through CQN would suggest otherwise. Also, the BBC Online had this Headline:
` Rangers & Aberdeen in European action `
Maybe they read CQN as well and think Celtic fans aren`t interested in anything so menial as a Europa League game so long as there are other matters to complain about..
Vinniethedog
Well done re supporting the team.
I hope the stadium is full of similar.
100 minutes of it.
One of our regulars….I won`t mention his name but he likes a pint….seems to be taking a break from posting. I think I`ll join him.
Cheerio for now.
VINNIETHEDOG on 23RD OCTOBER 2025 9:46 AM
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The performance issues were there last season before the transfer window opened.
We know new signings can take months to settle, see Khun.
The coaches and experienced players aren’t anywhere close to their standard of 12 months ago. Is that because we didn’t sign the right players in August?
Don’t worry i think that we’ll weather the Sturm!
Hot Smoked…I think I’ll join you. CQN has become a bit of an echo chamber. Deja vu once more again same as before…
It is not quite true that my knowledge of German is limited to my reading of ‘Commando’ comic books, particularly those set in WWII. Not quite untrue either. It does seem though that that language sometimes brings an edge not easily found in English, ‘schadenfreude’ probably the best known example but ‘versteck’* might work too. Combinations too,….”Sturm und Strang” might describe for example where we are now. The phrase itself originated from the title of a 1776 play set in pre revolutionry America. written by lifelong friend of Geothe, Friedrich von Klinger, (not to be confused with the later Corporal Klinger another ahead of his time) it later named a literary and artistic movement. We are facing Sturm while unter Strang. There is no hiding place* for Brendan and the Bhoys, or fur Das Kollektiv either. To paraphrase Neil Lennon what we must do is bring back the “Donner und Blitzen” to Celtic Park hopefully starting tonight.
AchtungBabyCSC
HS- Actually a good idea J
HS
He’ll be back soon, 1/11/25😉
new article posted.
Celtic Mac on 23rd October 2025 11:45 am
Our play has to be Schnell Schnell and if we are attacking up the wings we need Matt Braddock in a Mosquito .or alles ist kaputt.
If losing at half time and switching genre, we should bring on Limp Along Leslie and Wally Brand to secure VICTORy.
If it’s all Brann, the Rangers will be shitting themselves.