You cannot afford to rely on history, you have to make it.
Martin O'Neill
Showing posts with label GlasgowCelticFC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GlasgowCelticFC. Show all posts
Monday, 10 September 2018
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Celtic March in Champions League
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| Getty Images |
Celtic set up a Champions League third qualifying round tie against Elfsborg by easing aside Cliftonville.
Already 3-0 up from the away tie in Belfast, the Glasgow side extended their lead through Efe Ambrose's powerful 16th-minute header.
But it took until the 70th minute for their pressure to bring a second, a close-range Georgios Samaras header.
While Cliftonville's hard work avoided the feared rout, it is Celtic who will host Swedes Elfsborg next Wednesday.
Elfsborg, who have on-loan Celtic striker Mo Bangura and former Portsmouth forward James Keene in their squad, had earlier completed their own demolition of Daugava.
Already 7-1 up from the home leg, they showed they will be a tough hurdle to overcome for Neil Lennon's side, hopeful of matching the £23.5m earned from last season's march to the last 16, winning 4-0 in Latvia.
Despite striker Gary Hooper's recovery from a groin strain, Northern Irishman Lennon named an unchanged side from the one that won in his homeland.
Last season's top scorer was on the bench even though he has been the subject of a transfer bids from Norwich City and, most recently, QPR.
Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin had voiced his determination not to leave Scotland with a humiliating scoreline and not surprisingly named a more defensive formation, with former Werder Bremen striker Liam Boyce on his own up front.
The expected onslaught began with a Samaras shot being beaten away by goalkeeper Conor Devlin.
It was clever play by Sweden full-back Mikael Lustig that finally prised open the visiting defence, setting up Anthony Stokes to deliver a cross that was dispatched past Devlin by Nigeria defender Ambrose.
Part-timers Cliftonville battled away gallantly and threatened momentarily when Marc Smyth had a close-range effort blocked after a rare corner for the Northern Irish champions, while Ciaran Caldwell fired wide.
That was a brief respite as Kris Commons and James Forrest threatened a second goal from range, with the latter's effort clipping the top of the crossbar.
Celtic's intensity dipped after the break, but Stokes forced a fine fingertip save from Devlin with a clever drive the Irishman steered towards the far corner.
Stokes was not so smart when presented with an easier chance after being set up by Scott Brown, the striker curling his shot wide of Devlin and the post.
Just as Cliftonville appeared to be tiring, a desperate clearance from Kelvin Wilson prevented a cross presenting Boyce the chance of a surprise tap-in equaliser.
Minutes after Hooper came off the bench, Celtic extended their lead when a fine Commons cross found the head of Samaras eight yards from goal.
Hooper fired an effort against the base of the post and summer signing Amido Balde headed just wide on his debut from the bench, but Cliftonville managed to restrict Celtic to a two-goal victory.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Celtic Celebrate Barca Victory
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| Getty Images |
Glasgow Celtic delivered a stunning 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, rewarded for a disciplined defensive display against the European heavyweight and making the most of its rare attacks.
Victor Wanyama headed the Scottish champions in front in the 21st minute and teenage substitute Tony Watt rounded off another swift counterattack in the 83rd.
Four-time European champion Barca dominated possession but could only score in stoppage time when Lionel Messi found the net after being continuously thwarted by goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Celtic, which won its only European title in 1967, is now just two points behind Barca with two games left.
"I think it was one of the greatest nights in the club's recent history," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. "It was very poignant at our 125th anniversary. One, to play Barcelona in such a prestigious game and two, to win the game under huge difficulties with the squad decimated by injuries and illness.
"The players are heroes. They are heroes to me. I can't speak highly enough of their performance tonight and they will go down in the history books of the club as the team who beat probably the best team in the world."
Barca's first loss in Group G after three straight wins prevented it from securing early qualification for the knockout phase.
The reverse of the result in the Camp Nou two weeks ago, when Barca came from behind to win 2-1, ended the Catalan side's 12-match unbeaten run.
"It is not the first time we have lost a game like this and it won't be the last," Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova said.
Barca took just eight minutes to put Forster under pressure with Xavi Hernandez powering in a shot from outside the penalty area.
But Celtic was crowding out the visitors in defense and when the hosts finally found the space to launch a counterattack, they delivered.
Just like two weeks ago, Celtic took the lead by exploiting Barca's defensive frailties.
Wanyama rose above Jordi Alba to meet Charlie Mulgrew's corner and he headed past Victor Valdes.
"The first goal was important and gave us the energy to go on," Wanyama said. "We have been working hard at set pieces, we knew we were going to get one and we did it well."
Five minutes later, Celtic came close to stunning Barcelona again.
Another speedy break forward started by Kris Commons led to Adam Matthews delivering the ball into the penalty area, where Giorgos Samaras was unable to make a connection before Valdes saved.
Barca couldn't always get the space to find its rhythm but looked dangerous when it did.
An interchange with Andres Iniesta after beating three defenders saw Messi break clean through, but his effort was tipped over the crossbar by Forster.
The visitors weren't panicking in the search for an equaliser, with the passing carousel around the penalty area patient before Xavi found the space to launch a shot that couldn't match the quality of the buildup.
Alexis Sanchez was denied by the post before halftime from a header and, as Celtic continued to pack its defense, Forster was Celtic's assuring presence between the posts.
The English goalkeeper kept out a dipping shot from Messi and pulled off a double save to deny Alexis, diving low and then using his feet to block the follow-up.
Forster did even better to deny Messi from point-blank range, palming the ball away with a diving save after the Argentina forward's one-two with Jordi Alba ripped through the Celtic defense.
And there was an easy save to make when Messi sent a tame free kick straight at Forster.
Celtic went straight up the other end to score.
Forster's clearance went high over Xavi and fell straight at the feet of 18-year-old striker Watt, who lashed the ball straight past Valdes.
The closest Celtic had gone to extending its lead until then was Mikael Lustig heading straight at Valdes.
Barca never gave up hope of a second comeback in two weeks, but even Messi's late goal proved to be too late.
Forster finally was beaten only after he denied David Villa and Messi pounced to send the rebound into the roof of the net.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Celtic v Barcelona - Preview
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| Getty Images |
Emilio Izaguirre has added his name to a growing injury list as Celtic prepare to face Barcelona in the Champions League.
Having come agonisingly close to taking a point off the Catalan giants on Matchday Three, the Bhoys will be desperate to have something to show for their efforts on home soil.
Whether they can replicate the level of performance they managed in Camp Nou remains to be seen, with Neil Lennon's side having led at one stage before being pegged back.
Barca are unlikely to take pity on their midweek opponents, though, with an early ticket to the knockout stages and an opportunity to rest key men a top priority for Tito Vilanova's side.
Victory in Glasgow on Wednesday would wrap up top spot in Group G, while three points on the road and anything less than a win for Spartak Moscow at Benfica would seal their progress into the last-16.
Celtic, though, harbour qualification aspirations of their own, having collected four points so far, and another positive result in midweek would leave them in a strong position to make it out of the group.
Winger James Forrest (hamstring) and strikers Gary Hooper (hamstring), Lassad (groin) and Georgios Samaras (ankle) missed the trip to Tayside and only the latter appears to have a real chance of making the game against the Catalan giants.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has been given the green light to return to action after injury and has been included in the Catalan side's squad.
Pique has not played since suffering a foot injury against Spartak Moscow on 19th September but is now available again for coach Vilanova.
Pique's central defensive partner Carles Puyol is still missing through injury though, as are Adriano and Thiago Alcantara, while Sergio Busquets is suspended.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Late Alba Breaks Celtic Hearts
Jordi Alba broke Celtic's hearts by scoring with almost the last kick as Barcelona edged to a 2-1 Champions League Group G win at the Nou Camp.
Celtic had led at the famous stadium when, in the 18th minute, Georgios Samaras' header from a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick went in off the back of Barcelona centre-back Javier Mascherano.
And it looked for a while like the Greek striker, who had scored the winner against Spartak Moscow earlier in the month to clinch Celtic's first away victory in the competition, might have just have played his part in an even more momentous goal.
However, a minute before the break Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta levelled, and with the four minutes of injury time almost played at the end of an exhausting evening, defender Alba sneaked in at the back post to slide in an Adriano cross.
However they may have felt, the Celtic players were applauded off by their supporters and manager Neil Lennon would surely have been proud with his side's spirited performance.
Fraser Forster was in outstanding form, especially in the second half as he made a series of saves to show just why he had been included in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland.
Moreover, with Spartak beating Benfica 2-1 in Moscow, the Hoops remain in second place with four points from three games as they await the visit of Barcelona to Glasgow for the return game in a fortnight.
Samaras, skipper Scott Brown, Mikael Lustig and Emilio Izaguirre returned to the Celtic side while Kris Commons and James Forrest recovered from respective hamstring and groin injuries which kept them out of the win over St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday to take their place on the bench.
Injured Barca centre-back Gerard Pique joined Carles Puyol, Dani Alves and Eric Abidal on the sidelines and Sergio Busquets was suspended.
Coach Tito Vilanova gave 21-year-old Marc Bartra his first game of the season alongside midfielder Mascherano in central defence, while Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi went into the match on the back of a hat-trick in Saturday's 5-4 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Celtic should have gone behind in the second minute when Iniesta split the Hoops defence open with a sublime pass to find Alexis Sanchez but his shot sped past the far post.
The home side, as expected, had the vast bulk of possession but were far from purposeful.
Their next opening did not come until the ninth minute when left-back Alba got in behind the Celtic defence but Izaguirre did well to prevent Pedro getting on the end of the cross.
It seemed like a matter of time before Barcelona, although more methodical than magical, would get the breakthrough.
However, the first half turned on its head within a minute. Forster pulled off a great save from Bartra's close-range header after the rookie defender had got on the end of an Iniesta cut-back following more prompting by Messi.
The Scottish champions took immediate advantage of their good fortune when Sanchez conceded a free-kick for a foul on Brown wide on the right. Mulgrew's whipped-in free-kick was met by the head of Samaras and the ball came off the challenging Mascherano and went past the helpless Victor Valdes.
The several thousand Hoops fans high up in the stands could hardly believe what they had witnessed.
Barcelona were stung into action and Messi curled a free-kick over the bar after Brown had fouled him 30 yards from goal.
Moments later, Bartra should have done better from Iniesta's perfectly-weighted cross from the left but failed to connect properly with his header and the ball went wide.
In the 32nd minute, with the Celtic defence pinned back, Forster made a decent save from right-back Adriano's long-distance drive.
The home side looked suspect when Celtic attacked but in the 37th minute Messi, after being fouled by Wilson, went close once more with another free-kick from distance which just cleared the bar.
Two minutes from the break Samaras was replaced by Forrest after going over on his ankle.
A minute later Barcelona were level when Iniesta, after taking a Messi pass, worked a one-two with skipper Xavi Hernandez before sliding the ball past Forster from 12 yards as he slid to the ground.
It was a sickener for Lennon's side who had worked so diligently.
Barcelona dominated possession at the start of the second half although they had a lucky escape in the 53rd minute when Mulgrew's corner from the right came off Victor Wanyama at the back post with the ball skipping only a yard past the post.
Commons came on for the struggling Brown in the 63rd minute but Barcelona continued to beat a relentless path towards the Celtic goal.
Forster thwarted Messi and Iniesta as the pressure intensified.
In the 68th minute the Englishman made a terrific point-blank save from Messi after the Argentina ace was set up by Adriano.
As Barcelona camped at the edge of the Celtic box, and the defending became more desperate, Forster made further fine saves from Sanchez and Messi.
Celtic Believe in Barca Miracle
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| Getty Images |
Striker Miku insists Celtic can beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp, despite claiming the Catalans are the best side in the world.
Celtic meet Barcelona - the 2006, 2009 and 2011 Champions League winners - in Group G on Tuesday night.
Asked whether Celtic could upset the odds, on-loan Getafe striker Miku said: "Absolutely. They have injuries that might give us a chance.
"The game will be seen around the world, so that's maximum motivation."
The 27-year-old Venezuelan spent his senior career in Spain, the last two in the top flight with Getafe, before heading for Celtic Park this season.
"I have won, lost and drawn to Barcelona and this will be a difficult game," Miku said. "They are the best in the world just now.
"If we don't win in the SPL it is terrible, so we will play this game with the same mentality."
Three-time world player of the year Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's thrilling 5-4 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
"I have played against Messi many times and he is always thinking about the goal. It is possible to stop him, though," insisted Miku, who was a colleague of Barcelona's David Villa and Jordi Alba at Valencia.
"But when you think about Barcelona it is not just Messi; we have to be careful of everybody."
Celtic manager Neil Lennon headed for the Riazor stadium in Galicia immediately after his own side's 5-0 demolition of St Mirren to witness Barca at close quarters.
"It was a privilege to watch Messi play on Saturday," he said. "I don't think I could come up with any superlative to do the man justice.
Barcelona's victory over Deportivo left Lennon in no doubt about the task facing his players, but he believes they can rise to the occasion.
"I'm hoping to have 14 heroes tomorrow night," he said.
"We have pace and technical ability and came off a good result at the weekend. This is a great challenge for the players and one they should embrace."
Dundee United are the only Scottish club to beat Barcelona away from home in a competitive fixture, with the second and last of those victories coming in May 1987.
However, Celtic have come away with a draw in two of their four visits to the Nou Camp and arrive on the back of a confidence-boosting 3-2 win at Spartak Moscow in their previous group game.
"This is the ultimate test away from home," said Lennon.
"We have nothing to lose, but we're not here for a holiday or the tourist attractions. We're here for the football.
"We haven't budgeted for anything from this game, but who knows?
"Players need to show character, mental strength and play to the best of their abilities to overcome what is probably the best team in the world."
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Celtic Add to Rangers Woes
Celtic added to the woes of administration-hit Rangers with a superb 3-0 win over their Old Firm rivals in their final meeting of the season.
Goals from defender Charlie Mulgrew and midfielder Kris Commons, his first of the season, gave the rampant champions a commanding interval lead at Parkhead.
Striker Gary Hooper scored with a thumping drive soon after the break and it looked for a spell as if the home side were going to hand out a real hammering to the Govan men.
However, three goals were enough for the celebrating Celtic fans who can brag of a 21-point lead over their old rivals, an indication of their superiority this season, even in light of the 10 points Rangers were deducted in February for entering administration.
Celtic showed the strength of their squad by bringing back five of their star players.
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, right-back Adam Matthews, stopper Glenn Loovens, skipper Scott Brown and striker Georgios Samaras all returned for the last Glasgow derby of the season. Out went Thomas Rogne, Ki Sung-yueng, Pawel Brozek, Lukasz Zaluska and Cha Du-ri, the latter two starting on the bench along with 18-year-old striker Tony Watt, who scored two goals on his debut at Motherwell last week.
Gers boss Ally McCoist named the same side which beat Hearts last week with Lee McCulloch leading the line.
It was a peculiar build-up to the game due to Celtic having wrapped up the title last month and the problems of the Ibrox club who are fighting for their very survival, amid a seemingly endless search to find a buyer.
But as Hoops boss Neil Lennon took his seat in the stand - he was serving the second of a two-match touchline ban for criticising referee Willie Collum following the Scottish Communities League Cup final defeat to Kilmarnock in March - the fans were in full voice.
Rangers looked decent enough in the early stages and in the 16th minute they missed a good chance when midfielder Rhys McCabe robbed Brown in the middle of the park with a crunching tackle.
He fed Steven Whittaker who in turned played in Andrew Little but the Gers striker failed to connect properly with his angled-shot from 14 yards and Forster saved comfortably.
A minute later Celtic were ahead through Mulgrew with their first corner of the match.
Commons' cross from the right missed the mass of bodies in the middle to find the unmarked Celtic defender rushing in to bullet a header past Allan McGregor.
The Ibrox defence had to hold firm as the home side went looking for the second, trying to stretch Rangers down the flanks through Emilio Izaguirre and Matthews.
However, their task became even more difficult just after the half-hour mark when Celtic went two ahead through Commons.
Brown's pass to Hooper was quickly moved infield to the Scotland international who took advantage of Rangers defender Kyle Bartley's missed tackle to go through on goal and delightfully chip the ball over the advancing McGregor.
The Ibrox side looked close to unravelling amid the din from the home fans. Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley got on the end of a Commons cross to head wide of the back post before McGregor made a great save from Hoops defender Victor Wanyama, whose drive from the edge of the box looked goalbound and it was a bedraggled looking Rangers who welcomed the half-time whistle.
Damage limitation may have been theme of McCoist's half-time team talk and certainly the early stages of the second half did little to suggest a comeback was on the cards.
Celtic were quicker and sharper, switching play from left to right with ease and no little confidence and in the 51st minute the tireless Izaguirre's lofted cross from the left just avoided Hooper, two yards from goal.
A minute later Rangers had to thank McGregor for a brilliant save from Ledley's dipping volley from 20 yards, and the keeper made another block from Wanyama following the subsequent corner.
However, it merely delayed Celtic's third which came in the 53rd minute when Samaras played in Hooper and he hammered the ball high past the helpless Scotland number one.
As the Light Blues fans sang non-stop in defiance, certain in their side's defeat, Celtic took a breather but remained well in control.
In the 73rd minute Rangers substitute Salim Kerkar, on for Little, had half a chance when the ball broke kindly for him in a challenge with Wanyama but his chip from a tight angle sailed over.
Two minutes later Bartley, suffering a wretched afternoon, was booked for a foul on Izaguirre on the touchline which had the home fans on their feet in understandable anger.
With seven minutes remaining and the game petering out, Forster made a decent save from Sone Aluko's free-kick at the expense of a corner which came to nothing.
Brown picked up a yellow card for a foul on Kerkar near the end but that did not detract from a convincing Celtic win.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Beattie Breaks Celtic Hearts
Craig Beattie scored a dramatic late penalty as Hearts dumped Celtic out of the Scottish Cup semi-final with a 2-1 Hampden Park win.
Hearts will play Hibernian in the final for the first time since 1896 after substitute Craig Beattie's last-minute spot-kick earned a shock win over his former side Celtic.
One of the most remarkable afternoons in the history of the competition began in earnest a minute after the break when Rudi Skacel raced on to a pass from Beattie, who had replaced Scott Robinson at the interval, to fire Hearts into the lead.
Four minutes from time Celtic striker Gary Hooper headed in a Charlie Mulgrew cross and it looked like the game was heading towards extra-time.
However, with seconds of normal time remaining referee Euan Norris pointed to the spot when a shot from Tynecastle skipper Marius Zaliukas hit the arm of Hoops midfielder Joe Ledley and Beattie scored from the spot to send the travelling Jambos fans into ecstasy.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon was clearly unhappy at the penalty decision but will perhaps be more annoyed that his SPL champions will miss out on the chance of a double.
Edinburgh football fans, though, will look forward to a day out in Glasgow on May 19.
Lennon made one change to his side, bringing in Sweden right-back Mikael Lustig for Adam Matthews, who had a mouth infection.
The Tynecastle side showed two changes, defender Andy Webster and striker Stephen Elliott in for the injured Jamie Hamill and Gary Glen, who dropped out altogether.
The Tynecastle side had a great chance after just 30 seconds when Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson underhit a back-pass which let Elliott in, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster for a corner.
Hearts had six players in their starting line-up who were one booking away from missing the final but showed no signs of holding back and there were some hefty challenges in the early stages.
There was another moment of slackness from the Celtic defence in the ninth minute when defender Mulgrew was robbed by Jambos midfielder Ian Black, who raced into the box but his pass failed to find Elliott.
Lustig headed a Kris Commons free-kick over the bar from six yards out five minutes later, before a fine Mulgrew cross into the box evaded Georgios Samaras, but the game was taking its time to come to the boil.
In the 21st minute Black was lucky to escape with only a booking after a challenge on Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley, in an incident which saw Mulgrew also booked. Black was also penalised for a handball but Norris resisted the temptation to produce a second yellow card.
Hooper headed wide from a Mulgrew cross, and Webster caused panic when he was short with a return pass to Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald which allowed Commons in, but the Scotland midfielder's touch was too heavy as he was forced to go around MacDonald and the opportunity was lost.
The best chance of the first half came for the dominant Hoops in the final minute but Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng hit the post with a header from Lustig's cross when it looked as if he must score.
Beattie replaced Robinson for the start of the second half and the move paid off after just a minute when the big striker helped Skacel fire Hearts ahead.
After taking a pass from Black 30 yards out, Beattie quickly released Skacel into the box and he rounded Forster before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
Stunned Celtic immediately stepped up the tempo and moments later Ki fired over from the edge of the box with a drive which signalled a period of intense Hoops pressure.
However, Hearts were a threat on the counter. In the 54th minute Skacel fired in a drive from 30 yards which Forster was glad to push round the post for a corner, and moments later the Czech tried his luck from the edge of the box but this time his effort trundled wide.
Anthony Stokes replaced the ineffective Samaras on the hour mark as Lennon tried plan B but in another Hearts counter-attack Beattie fired wide from 20 yards.
Ki hit the post again with a header from Commons' free-kick in the 81st minute, before skipper Scott Brown made way for Dylan McGeouch.
MacDonald produced a fingertip save to stop Commons' free-kick going under the bar before making a great save from Mulgrew's header with the rebound coming off Stokes' thigh and away from danger.
But in the 86th minute Celtic eventually got through when Hooper headed in Mulgrew's cross from four yards out and extra-time looked likely.
However, Beattie became the Hearts hero with his spot-kick, although there was still time for Celtic to be denied a penalty when the ball appeared to come off the arm of Webster as Hearts defended for their lives.
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