Celtic face a tough third round of UEFA Champions League qualifying with a trip across Europe to play FK Qarabag of Azerbaijan but will take comfort from a first leg home clash.
An impressive preseason from Celtic has seen some handsome results, including a 2-0 victory over Rennes on Saturday. Such form leaves the Bhoys in good stead ahead of their tie with Baku-based FK Qarabag.
Only Charlie Mulgrew will miss out on the game through injury, picked up in the aforementioned match against Rennes. The rest of the squad, including summer signing Nadir Ciftci, will be available. Ciftci will need to make the most of European football as it will represent his only chance to pull on the green and white hoops until his league ban for biting expires in September.
Qarabag dispatched Rudar Pljevlja by a solitary goal to nil in the second qualifying round, but they will require a much better attacking performance if they hope to get a crucial away goal at Parkhead.
A mentality of sitting back and soaking up pressure will not work against a young and hungry Celtic side that will seek to find an early goal to settle any lingering nerves. Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong will both come out of the blocks quickly and Stefan Johansen will control the passing in the midfield to create the chances for the attacking line of Ciftci and Leigh Griffiths.
Unlike Stjarnan in the last round, Qarabag have yet to start their season and as such may not be as match fit. Their season begins Friday week away to Qabala and the two legs of this Champions League qualifier might prove just as crucial to the Azerbaijani side as it does to Celtic, who begin their quest for five-in-a-row this Saturday against Ross County at Parkhead.
Celtic cannot afford a slip up. The Champions League is their main focus for the season, as the league promises to offer little to no real excitement.
Ronny Deila’s men will approach the tie with confidence. This team is capable of progressing far if they can overcome Qarabag and into the silk bag for the play-off stage of the Champions League. Deila, the man who was appointed and doubted by many supporters, has turned that opinion around and is now adored by the Celtic faithful.
Another factor in the match will be the Parkhead crowd, which never fails to deliver incredible support on European nights. They, as much as the team, are desperate to bring back the nights of defeating European heavyweights such as Manchester United and FC Barcelona. Parkhead rumbled on its very foundations when Tony Watt found the back of the net to give Celtic that famous two-goal lead against the Catalan giants in 2012.
The team that steps out tomorrow night should include sought-after defender Virgil van Dijk. The Celtic future of the Dutch centre-back relies on qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League.
It is difficult to see Qarabag challenging Celtic, who should record a comfortable win by at least two goals and set themselves up for the second leg of the tie in Azerbaijan.
Prediction: Celtic 4 FK Qarabag 1
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