With the awful European campaign attempted by Rangers this year and the usual failure in the UEFA Cup of Scotland’s ’second best’ sides, the sole representation is Celtic FC. And even their participation in Europe’s premier competition looks to be coming to an end at the first hurdle after a poor start to the group. A goalless draw at home to unfancied Aalborg was followed by a defeat away to Villarreal and it doesn’t get any easier for the Bhoys - they travel to Old Trafford this week to take on the English champions Manchester United.
Should Celtic fans be giving up all hope? Judging by the last time these teams played, then the answer is a resounding no. Needing a win to progress from group stage of this very tournament two years ago, Celtic took the spoils by one Shunsuke Nakamura goal and a penalty miss from Louis Saha. Given, this time out there will be no passionate Glasgow crowd to urge them on.
However, the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford still brought a modicum of Scottish success. After taking the lead, Celtic were pegged back by two Louis Saha goals only for Nakamura to bring it back at two-two with a wonderful free kick. Celtic matched their opponents for most of the game that night and were stunned by a late United winner from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The writing may be on the wall already for Gordon Strachan’s men. Strachan has already conceded that Celtic have ‘a mountain to climb’ to reach the last sixteen and that preparation for the UEFA Cup may be a more realistic ambition. However, that may be easier said than done. Aalborg were a team Celtic expected to comfortably beat and they struggled. It is difficult to see the Bhoys gaining any points out of the two clashes with Man Utd. Therefore, Celtic may be faced with the task of winning their last two games in order to stay in Europe.
United surely look the classier outfit going into Tuesday’s game. Fired by the golden strike force of Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Cristiano Ronaldo and the in-form Wayne Rooney, United appear capable of scoring at will. Their defence has rapidly improved since that cold night in Glasgow two years ago and Celtic will have to work tirelessly to break them down.
The game has also been marred by events from last season’s UEFA Cup final, in which Rangers were defeated by Zenit St Petersburg. Over 100,000 Rangers fans made their way south of the border to Manchester and the ensuing trouble on the streets after the game made for ugly reading. Now, ticketless Celtic fans are being told to stay at home in an effort to prevent the possibility of scenes witnessed last May.
With the form Utd are in however, there shouldn’t be that much motivation for Celtic’s fans to stream southwards.
Where Scotland have just the one team involved in Europe this year, England have plenty. Arsenal will hope to build on their good result against Porto but may find it tricky away in Turkey to Fenerbache. Liverpool face a hard evening when they travel to the Spanish capital to play Athletico Madrid. Fernando Torres will miss the game with his old team due to injury and Liverpool will face their toughest European challenge yet this season. Chelsea face Roma at home and will need a victory after the poor draw away to Cluj.
Three English team will play in the UEFA Cup this week with Aston Villa hosting Ajax as the showpiece game. Ajax are no longer the force they once were but Villa will be taking nothing for granted and will be going all out to secure the three points. Tottenham travel to Italy to face Udinese, in arguably their toughest match of the group. Spurs are in poor form and will hope to use the UEFA Cup as a springboard to kickstart their season. Portsmouth face Braga away in Portgual, having narrowly beaten Braga’s compatriots Guimaraes in qualifying.
All in all, it appears to be a decisive week for British teams in Europe.
The above article was written by our new Champions League/UEFA Cup Blogger Mark Tilley
(article for www.scotzine.com)
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