It certainly wasn’t the draw Celtic fans would have wished for. A trip to Russia is never an enviable task and Spartak Moscow have a fair amount of quality in their team. However, as do Celtic and not many teams relish a night at Parkhead, either. Most worrying for Strachan may be the fact the Ruskis are top of their league and have 18 or so games under their belt already.
But, let’s face it, Celtic made the last 16 last time round, beating Manchester United, Benfica and holding the eventual champions, AC Milan, over two games. If they can’t beat Spartak Moscow over two legs then the simple fact is they don’t deserve to take their place among Europe’s best.
The same harsh reality applies to Rangers. It is unlikely they will deliver a performance as insipid as the first leg against FC Zeta and I do expect them to get a couple of away goals and seal the tie.
This, in all probability, will result in a contest with Red Star Belgrade, whose pedigree has been in freefall ever since they conquered Europe in 1991.
It would be a disaster for Walter Smith and his players if they fail to qualify, particularly as the draw has given them every chance.
I must also mention Dunfermline, who are in the ridiculous position of competing in Europe despite being the worst team in the country’s top flight last year. However, they don’t make the rules and I wish them all the best in their qualifier.
Let’s hope all Scottish teams make it through – great excuse for midweek trips to the boozer.
This week’s hero
New SFA chief Gordon Smith - let’s hope he takes his fight for video evidence all the way in an attempt to rid our game of cheating.
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3 comments:
Dave
Thanks for stopping by on my blog.
As you say it's a tough draw for Celtic. If we were meeting Spartak Moscow in the group stages of the Champions League I'd be confident but this difference in where we are in our respective seasons worries me.
Also the fact that Spartak have an artificial pitch. Why is it that the same stadium will host the final on a grass pitch yet Spartak are allowed to use an artificial pitch in the opening rounds of the same tournament?
Martino
Thanks to you too. Let's hope there's plenty to talk about.
The artificial pitch is a strange one and Celtic obviously have 'previous' regarding this with the Dunfermline situation a few years back.
It gives Spartak an obvious advantage over there and it'll be an interesting one.
What's the odds on one of the papers getting an 'exclusive' that Gary O'Connor is helping Celtic plot Spartak's downfall?
Negative!!! thats how we started this 1st leg against red star and you can bet your bottom dollar that thats how we will finish it.
Playing a 4-5-1 at home is classic Walter Smith but not to start with our most dynamic player (wee Nacho) to give us width or pace up front was foolish.
Positives for me were the subs were made at the right time and also Cousins looks like he wants to have a shot and get it on target from anywhere,
Is the whole point of the champions league now for Rangers just to make the £10 million???, answers on a post card.
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