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Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark all possible for Celtic

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Delighted for Aberdeen, winning away from home in Croatia is no mean feat for a Scottish club, but a 0-3 result, anywhere, is a special result.  None of the other 32 away teams could manage so much as a two goal win.

The Inverness defeat on their maiden European performance was pity, if not a surprise.  Winning your home game is regarded as the Cardinal Rule in Europe, but they have a puncher’s chance next week in Romania.  Score the opening goal and it’s anyone’s game.

Today’s draw for the Champions League 3rd round qualifier has the potential to get a bit tasty.  There are plenty of potential opponents from northern Europe with trips to Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark all possible, while Celtic are the only seed from northern Europe.  Hopefully Uefa, in their keenness for geographical neighbourliness, don’t feel the need to send us to Israel, Poland or Serbia.  If we take care of Stjarnan, of course.

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  2. Malc on

    Well done to my old home town team. Great to see another team carrying the Scottish flag in Europe.

  9. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    Not wishing to give The Scotsman any hits, here is the article `GG referred to:

     

    Gunnar Nielsen: Celtic will pay for missed penalty

     

     

    “Leigh Griffiths argues with Stefan Johansen over who should take the penalty against Stjarnan. Picture: SNS

     

    STEPHEN HALLIDAY

     

    23:52Thursday 16 July 2015 00:00Friday 17 July 2015

     

    CELTIC have been warned they may yet have cause to regret the spot-kick spat which saw them pass up the chance of a comfortable 3-0 first-leg lead against Stjarnan in the Champions League second qualifying round.

     

     

    Gunnar Nielsen, the man who saved the penalty which Leigh Griffiths took after an argument with team-mate Stefan Johansen, believes it has given the Icelandic champions hope of a shock turnaround on their own patch next Wednesday night.

     

     

    Leigh Griffiths missed a spotkick which was saved by Gunnar Neilson. Picture: SNS

     

    Leigh Griffiths missed a spotkick which was saved by Gunnar Neilson. Picture: SNS

     

    The Faroese international goalkeeper also feels Celtic could be upset by the less than stellar environment they will discover at Stjarnan’s Samsungvollur ground in the Reykjavik suburb of Gardabaer.

     

     

    The venue has a capacity of just 1,400, with only 990 seated in its sole stand. But it is the low-grade synthetic playing surface which former Manchester City and Motherwell keeper Nielsen insists could seriously trouble Celtic captain Scott Brown and his team-mates.

     

     

    Stjarnan took the scalps of Motherwell and Lech Poznan in the Europa League on their own ground last season, before losing 3-0 to Inter Milan in a tie they moved to the 15,000-capacity national stadium in Reykjavik.

     

     

    “Celtic are going to have to come to what is not the best astroturf in the world,” said Nielsen with a smile. “We have a small pitch and it could also be very windy so you never know what might happen.

     

     

    Celtic are going to have to come to what is not the best astroturf in the world

     

    Gunnar Nielsen

     

    “This tie could still be interesting. I couldn’t compare our stadium to any of the top-flight grounds in Scotland – we only have the one stand, after all, and barriers around the rest of the pitch.

     

     

    “As for the surface, it’s not as smooth as the one at Hamilton, for example. The ball runs better at New Douglas Park. Ours can be really bumpy, especially when it’s dry – and I expect it might be dry next week. It can be quite hard to play on in those conditions.

     

     

    “I know Celtic like to move the ball quickly, with lots of interchanges between their attacking players, and that might be a problem for them. Their players will probably complain about it – maybe not in public but, between themselves, there will probably be protests about the state of it.

     

     

    “Motherwell and Lech Poznan were shocked there last year and we can be quite good when we sit deep and hit on the counter-attack.

     

     

    “Also, if we can score first then they will become really nervous. Celtic pride themselves on playing in the Champions League – this is everything for them. Of course, the Scottish Premiership is important to them but the Champions League is what they really want so they could be a little worried, especially on our pitch.”

     

     

    Nielsen was outstanding in Wednesday night’s first leg at Celtic Park, beaten only by Dedryck Boyata’s 44th-minute header and Johansen’s goal 11 minutes into the second half. He made a series of fine saves, including the 78th-minute penalty stop to deny Griffiths.

     

     

    “It was a good performance from us, although I would have liked to have kept it down to just 1-0,” added the 28-year-old.

     

     

    “But 2-0 isn’t so bad. Obviously, 3-0 would have been a big difference, so the penalty save could be a big moment in the tie.

     

     

    “Griffiths wanted to take it but so did Johansen and Leigh had to point to the bench to prove that he should be on that duty. I felt like shouting ‘Yes!’ because our assistant manager, Brynjar Gunnarsson, had been watching DVDs of Celtic and he had told me before the game where Griffiths would shoot if he took one.

     

     

    “So I was very pleased when he stepped up and he hit it where I expected him to. I’m now on a run against Celtic because the last time I played against them for Motherwell I saved one from Kris Commons.

     

     

    “Hopefully, the tie will come down to a penalty shoot-out next week and then we’ll go through! If I hadn’t made that save then the tie would definitely have been over at 3-0. It’s still going to be really, really hard but if we can make it a bit awkward for them back home then you never know.

     

     

    “We were really annoyed at losing that first goal when we did. They had had a lot of possession and we knew that if we switched off for just a second then they could punish us.

     

     

    “Of course, that’s exactly what happened, which was a shame. But we had a couple of good chances against them at 1-0 and that will give us confidence for the second leg.

     

     

    “I expect that the game will be similar to the one at Celtic Park. We will make it hard for them on our pitch and, if we can take our chances this time, then we will see what happens.”

     

     

     

    JJ

  12. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Can’t understand how the draw can be made before the ties are finished, what’s the point in seeding teams, crazy, but at these stages Uefa & co don’t care, as long as we keep being in the hat will do me come the big draw……

  13. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    FRANNYB67

     

     

    The following two weeks,which is why the draw is being done so soon.

  14. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    I Personally think Ronny might just be thinking Ole Stephan might need a Wee Sit on the Bench for a Couple of games to Realise Celtic can Play without Him..

     

     

    As Well as a Wee spot of Stop believing in Your own Hype..【ツ】

     

     

    As for the Return Leg.. 1-4 to Celtic with a Consolatory Funny celebrated Goal from the Sons of Shuggie Evalduson..

     

     

    They have to Cone out and Celtic will punish them..

     

     

    Also great to see The New Number 9 Enigma getting The Original Number 9 enigmas Ermm Number 9..

     

     

    Apologies to any Superstitious CQNers that read that Last paragraph through a Upside down Mirror.. Lol

     

     

    Summa of 666CSC

  16. murdochbhoy on

    Good morning CQNers,

     

     

    Last Wednesday I only got audio coverage of the game – the landlord was unable to get tv coverage so tuned tv to Radio Scotland for the commentary, it caused some mickey taking that 6 Celtic men continued to watch the screen although the commentary could be heard throughout the pub.

     

     

    I turned to CQN to get a more in-depth view of the game but alas I’m still very much in the dark whether Johansen, Mulgrew, Boyata and Ciftci had good or bad games.

     

     

    What I did discern from the commentary was that Stjarnan are a poor team and should have been put away with ease last Wednesday, that they weren’t is testament to the profligacy of 22 shots producing only 2 goals.

     

     

    We’re in for an uncomfortable time in next Wednesday’s game on a small poor synthetic pitch where Stjarnan will have more opportunity to impose their stifling tactics, hopefully our passing and finishing will be more accurate then.

  18. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Well done Aberdeen …excellent result …

     

     

    Re Neilsson ….hadn’t realised he was the same guy that had played for Motherwell …he was stinking for them .. Plays great against us …typical :-))

  20. bankiebhoy1 on

    PF – aye, great result for the Dandy Dons – WMBT will be in great form today.

     

    Re THAT keeper, aye he kept them in it, as you say – typical.

     

     

    HH

  22. yorkbhoy on

    SMSM

     

     

    Warburton’s new management style boosts Scottish football as Dandy Dons win away in Europe.

  23. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    MurdochBhoy..

     

     

    I hope they Stifle us for 90 Mins..

     

     

    We are in No Rush..

     

     

    Hopefully Ronny might set out to Stifle them as a Calvary charge to Finish the Tie would be Silly..

     

     

    001

  24. murdochbhoy on

    Summa of Sammi…. @ 08.05

     

     

    Ronny using stifling tactics, hmm, if he does it’ll be a welcome first and indicate he does have a plan B.

  26. jimbo67 on

    BMCUWP@7.23

     

     

    Excellent viewing to set me off on my way to work. And this from a malcontent who knows next to nothing of the game

     

     

    Have a good one folks

     

     

    Jimbo67

  27. bankiebhoy1 on

    Scoddland’s finest playin’ to form as they ignore the bhoys an’ big-up the boys in bloo……

     

     

    HHH.

  30. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Score first on Wednesday they’re screwed

     

     

    We are a well financed seeded European team …anything but a victory in Iceland is a disgrace ..surely our expectations haven’t been managed to such an extent that we are concerned about this tie .. FFS

  31. Neil Lennon & McCartney on

    ….PFayr supports WeeOscar

     

     

    ….sadly, it would appear so, for most on here

     

     

    HH

  32. Neil Lennon & McCartney on

    When I was wee

     

     

    I thought optimist

     

     

    meant somebody

     

     

    that supported

     

     

    CELTIC

  35. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JIMBO67

     

     

    Aye,mate. It’s been harsh all these years living in ignorance. But one day someone will mibbe explain it all and make it all worthwhile.

  36. Gary67 on

    More likely a trip to Poland, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Finland or Albania

     

     

    Champions route

     

    Group 1

     

    Seeded:

     

    FC Basel 1893 (SUI)

     

    FK AS Trenčín (SVK)/FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU)

     

    Celtic FC (SCO)/Stjarnan (ISL)

     

    PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)/FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)

     

    NK Maribor (SVN)/FC Astana (KAZ)

     

     

    Unseeded:

     

    FK Sarajevo (BIH)/KKS Lech Poznań (POL)

     

    FK Partizan (SRB)/FC Dila Gori (GEO)

     

    Qarabağ FK (AZE)/FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE)

     

    HJK Helsinki (FIN)/FK Ventspils (LVA)

     

    KF Skënderbeu (ALB)/Crusaders FC (NIR)

     

     

    Group 2

     

    Seeded:

     

    FC Salzburg (AUT)

     

    FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)

     

    APOEL FC (CYP)/FK Vardar (MKD)

     

    FC BATE Borisov (BLR)/Dundalk FC (IRL)

     

    GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)/CS Fola Esch (LUX)

     

     

    Unseeded:

     

    Hibernians FC (MLT)/ Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)

     

    Malmö FF (SWE)/FK Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU)

     

    Molde FK (NOR)/FC Pyunik (ARM)

     

    FC Midtjylland (DEN)/Lincoln FC (GIB)

     

    Molde FK (NOR)/FC Pyunik (ARM)

     

    The New Saints FC (WAL)/Videoton FC (HUN)

  37. midfield maestro on

    Good to see another club help with coefficient. Have known Derek McInnes for 30 years, a nicer person you couldn’t meet. Delighted for him, as long as he always fails against us that’s fine.

  38. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    neil lennon & mccartney

     

     

    08:17 on 17 July, 2015

     

    ….PFayr supports WeeOscar

     

     

    ….sadly, it would appear so, for most on here

     

     

    HH

     

     

    ..

     

     

    Maybe Peeps on here Don’t like calling Teams a Pub Team just out of Respect..

     

     

    Or Bhoys against Men as Souness found out..

     

     

    To tell the Truth I would be wary of the Second leg if Lenny was in Charge as in a Lot of Games he believed the ‘We just need to Turn up’ Hype..

     

     

    I Wonder how Barcelona treat Wee Northern European Teams away from Home.. 【ツ】

     

     

    Summa

  40. Gary67 on

    With our first competitive game under our belt and another friendly tomorrow, I would expect us to win by at least the same margin in Iceland as we did at CP.

  42. murdochbhoy on

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS @ 07:23 o

     

     

    Number 7 for this?

     

     

    Only 339 views for this so far,very strange.

     

     

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4EUclcLy7SQ

     

     

     

     

    Something not right with the view counter………both Magnus and I have viewed it but it resolutely refuses to budge from 339?

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