CL Preview: Celtic - Aalborg

CelticKing · Sep 16, 2008

CL Preview: Celtic - Aalborg

VS.

What: Champions League Group E, Matchday 1
Who: Celtic (SPL) vs Aalborg BK (Danish Superliga)
When: Wednesday 17 September, 1945 (BST)
Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow

Home Comforts

Celtic's stars have been caught cold several times already in this young season. In the first Old Firm game they were thumped 4-2 at home by Rangers. Then, Several Bhoys tasted defeat in Scotland colours in Macedonia as World Cup qualifying kicked off last Saturday. Now, the fans will hope that the first instalment of their Champions League adventure doesn't end in a similarly harsh wake-up call.

There's very little margin for error even before a ball has been kicked in Group E. With Manchester United and Villarreal also in the group, Celtic must look to mug the Danish Champions for six points. The Hoops are hoping to qualify for the last 16 for the third time in succession and know their home form will be the key once again.

Their away record in Europe, it must be said, is pitiful - just one draw in 17 away in the CL, compared to a 100% home record over the last two campaigns. Two dropped points here and one might assume that these sides will be battling for third place.

Still, after a lacklustre start to the season, the free-flowing 4-2 win at Fir Park will have done wonders for the confidence. Gordon Strachan's men aren't likely to be as patient as Rangers were during their run to the Uefa Cup final last term, wherein the Bears were able to play patiently both home and away, often content to scrape through by the narrowest of margins.

No, Strachan will want to have his cake and eat it – maintaining their home dominance whilst making more of an impact on the road.

Mission Impossible?

Danish champions Aalborg seemed fated to meet one of the Glasgow giants in Europe, for they would have played Rangers in the third round of qualifying had the Light Blues not crashed out to unfavoured Kaunas. AaB subsequently made light work of the Lithuanian outfit.

Then, of course, there's boss Bruce Rioch. The English-born former Scotland international is a journeyman player turned journeyman manager. Being drawn against the champions of both Scotland and England will have excited the experienced tactician.

Rioch has battled with Strachan once before, in 1999, when his Norwich side crashed out of the FA Cup third round at the hands of Strachan's Coventry. He next tangled with Scottish opposition in 2006 when his Odense BK side sent Hibernian crashing out of the InterToto Cup.

However, the Champions League clashes will be a different proposition altogether. The Hoops, for their part, have a good record against Danish opposition, registering seven wins, one draw and two losses in their last ten.

AaB, though, are looking to make history at Parkhead. Their players are on £5,000-a-man bonuses to stun the Hoops and they don't believe it to be an impossibility.

Skipper Thomas Augustinussen said: “If I'm honest, I think we will be going for third place and it would be between ourselves and Celtic.”

Director of football Lynge Jacobsen added: “We beat Sampdoria in both UEFA Cup games last season and we were 2-0 up at White Hart Lane before losing out to Spurs, so we can take confidence.”

However, the weekend defeat at home to AGF Aarhus. Was far from ideal preparation. Celtic scout Tom O'Neill said of the game: “I think what I saw was a team that perhaps had one eye on the Champions League.”

Form Guide

Celtic

Last Six Competitive Results

Sep 13, 2008 Motherwell 2-4 Celtic SPL

Aug 31, 2008 Celtic 2-4 Rangers SPL

Aug 23, 2008 Celtic 3-0 Falkirk SPL

Aug 17, 2008 Dundee Utd 1-1 Celtic SPL

Aug 10, 2008 Celtic 1-0 St Mirren SPL

May 22, 2008 Dundee Utd 0-1 Celtic SPL

Aalborg

Last Six Competitive Results

Sep 13, 2008 AaB 0-2 AGF Aarhus Superligaen

Aug 31, 2008 SønderjyskE 1-2 AaB Superligaen

Aug 27, 2008 Kaunas 0-2 AaB CLQ R3

Aug 17, 2008 AaB 0-3 Odense Superligaen

Aug 13, 2008 AaB 2-0 Kaunas CLQ R3

Aug 09, 2008 AaB 1-1 Esbjerg fB Superligaen

Team News

Celtic

Strachan doesn't have an injury crisis, but he certainly has a selection headache ahead of the group opener. Georgios Samaras has been in devastating form, but Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will expect to saunter back in having been suspended at the weekend. Scott McDonald is also back in action after recovering from a groin complaint. He netted at the weekend, but still looks short of optimum fitness.

Big Jan, though, missed training to be with his pregnant wife and may be a doubt depending on personal circumstances.

Another little headache exists in midfield. Youngster Marc Crosas did well in the holding role, but is expected to make way for the more experienced Paul Hartley, whose knee complaint has eased.

Mark Wilson took a knock on Saturday, but trained on Tuesday and should be fit.

Last starting XI (vs. Motherwell): Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Robson, Crosas (Nakamura 80), Scott Brown, Maloney, Samaras, McDonald (Sheridan 86).

Aalborg

It's a new-look AaB side and one which is widely considered to be inferior to last season's model.

Danish international right-back Kasper Bogelund, a summer signing from Borussia Monchengladback, is set to miss out through injury. Siyabonge Nomvethe is a long-term crock.

Jeppe Curth or Simon Braemer are fighting it out to partner danger man Marek Saganowski up front.

However, the main goal threats will come from midfield. The side is generally quite settled, despite summer activity and poor form. Eleven players played in all four qualification matches.

Last starting XI (vs. AGF Aahrus): Zaza, L. Nielsen, Olfers, Jakobsen, Martin Pedersen, Risgård (Enevoldsen 62), Augustinussen, Johansson, Due (Schwartz 84), Caca (Saganowski 62), Curth.

Players to Watch

Celtic

Bullish maestro Scott Brown was back to his best at the weekend. He's perfect for these tight, nervy occasions due to his unparalleled work-rate and tidy passing. However, he can do much more than that and the Parkhead faithful will be eager to see him drive forward where appropriate, especially if Hartley plays in a deeper role.

Aalborg

Striker Marek Saganowski will be the biggest handful for Celtic's shaky rearguard on Wednesday.

An international teammate of Bhoys 'keeper Artur Boruc, the well-travelled 29-year-old was signed this summer on a short-term contract. A hitman for the big occasion, his goal against Sheffield United kept Southampton in the Championship on the final day of last season.

He could be a dark horse in this group and Aalborg's best chance of grabbing third place.
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Claud · Sep 16, 2008

I think it won't be much of a challenge for Celtic. 3-0 Celtic wins

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CL Preview: Celtic - Aalborg

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