Celtic FC look to appease their fans (and owners) by dispatching Dutch side FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on Thursday night. The Bhoys were all but eliminated from Champions League qualifiers when they went down 3-0 to Sporting Braga in the first leg.
Neil Lennon will need a better showing if his team are to avoid an early exit from the Europa League as well. They will be in good spirits after a 1-0 defeat of Inverness CT kept them on par with Rangers in the SPL.
FC Utrecht overcame Swiss side FC Luzern in third round qualifying but face tougher competition in the playoffs. Notoriously bad in away-game European fixtures, Utrecht must get some kind of positive result in the first leg for any chance in the return to Holland. They bounced back from an early 3-1 defeat to
Feyenoord with a 3-1 home victory over
NAC Breda to have the squad confident for this match.
Europa League Playoff Round: Celtic FC vs. FC Utrecht
Date: 19 August, 2010 - 20:45 CET
Venue: Celtic Park - Glasgow
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway)
Celtic:
Goalkeeper: Lukasz Zaluska
Defenders: Du-Ri Cha, Glenn Loovens, Jos Hooiveld, Daniel Majstorovic
Midfielders: Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney, Joseph Ledley, Patrick McCourt
Forwards: Georgios Samaras, Marc Fortune
Manager: Neil Lennon
Injured: Gary Hooper
Booked: -
Utrecht:
Keeper: Michael Vorm
Defenders: Alje Schut, Tim Cornelisse, Mihai Nesu, Jan Wuytens
Midfielders: Jacob Lensky, Michael Silberbauer, Nana Asare, Dries Mertens
Forwards: Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Jacob Mulenga
Manager: Ton du Chatinier
Injured: -
Booked: -
Celtic are under financial and fan-based pressure in this match, while Utrecht have had a tough time winning road games in European competitions. Weather in Glasgow ill be about 15 degrees with a 15% chance of precipitation. Norwegian referee
Svein Oddvar Moen will oversee the match.
Last meeting: These teams have not previously met.
Wins Celtic: 0
Wins Utrecht: 0
Draws: 0
Celtic have struggled recently but shown some positive signs. Last week's 1-0 win over newcomers Inverness Caledonian Thistle showed good work and cohesiveness. Utrecht will try to put up a fight but I believe Celtic have the better squad and motivation to achieve at least a 1-goal victory in the first leg.
Tip: Celtic to Win in the 1x2 market.
The best odds to this game you find at
Bet365,
Expekt and
Betfair.
