Underestimating teams in August, win Walfrid hospitality tomorrow

You and I have enough recent experience to know teams we’ve never heard of, or know little about, cannot be underestimated when it comes to European football.  We should expect, and will get, a very difficult game tomorrow.

The good news is that Hapoel Beer Shiva have lost goals in three consecutive matches after a solid defensive run which saw them keep 8 clean sheets in 12 games.  But they scored four while conceding in two of those games, the only reversal coming at home to Ashdod in the League Cup last midweek.

They shut up shop away from home in their two earlier Champions League qualifying rounds at Sheriff in Moldova after a narrow 3-2 home win, they kept out Olympiakos before winning the return 1-0 in the last round.

Unlike in previous years, we are not facing a team midseason in the playoff round; Hapoel have had a few cup games but will not open their league season until Saturday.

Hospitality for 3 people at Celtic-Hapoel Beer Shiva at Walfrid Restaurant

Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, have given us three tickets for fantastic hospitality at the Walfrid Restaurant, before, during and after tomorrow’s night’s Champions League qualifier.  This is another money can’t buy opportunity for three people to watch Celtic in a hugely important game in sumptuous comfort.

Anyone can enter the competition, however, as this prize of so incredible, I’d like everyone who enters to donate a recommended £10 to the good work of the Celtic Foundation.

You can donate at this MyDonate page.

The Celtic Foundation work to improve Health, promote Equality, encourage Learning and tackle Poverty (H.E.L.P.) in Scotland, the rest of the UK and Ireland, and worldwide.  It’s your Foundation, you built and maintain its good work.

A few guidelines for the raffle:

Raffle closes at 21:00 BST TONIGHT, so there’s not a lot of time and I’m not expecting many entries.  You will not be entered into the competition if you donate or apply afterwards.

Enter with an email address you are going to check later tonight or early tomorrow, add a phone number, if you like.

You can enter two ways:

By making a recommended £10 donation to Celtic FC Foundation here.  Then email me at celticquicknews@gmail.com with Walfrid in the subject line, to make sure I can get in touch with you.

Or

By emailing me the names of every Celtic shirt sponsor and official kit manufacturer.  Ever. To celticquicknews@gmail.com

One of the above will be pretty easy for most of us.  The other will be pretty difficult.  Do the easy one.

Great prize.  Only open for a few hours so there will be little competition.  Go for it!

Thank you, and thanks to Intelligent Car Leasing for supporting our fundraising efforts.