Celtic In Europe 2025/26

If it were kasak we could always ask the SFA for a postponement of our game against the huns to help boost Scottish football.

 

absolutely nothing wrong with doing that as we all benefit from the co-efficients but that means they have to do it for all teams

 

Slovan being a potential opponent and probably the more likely one I’m very uneasy about.

We destroyed them last season going into our first CL game with a thirst to prove we’re deserving to play that level and lay a marker down. I think our team has a tendency of not playing to the intensity and making sure of proving our quality when we think we’re better and the expectation is that we’ll just win and look forward to the reward. I hope I’m wrong but I’m basing it on only 3 games, the Cup Final that was our approach turned up thinking it was won, expected that was all we needed to do instead of making sure of it outworking and making sure that we proved it, the St Johnstone game to win the league we turned up looking forward to the celebrations and the party and forgot that we needed to play a game to make that happen and again were very lazy about it and finally 3-0 against Rangers at Ibrox, we thought after the cup final we still win even if they play at their best and turned up there almost affronted at them not allowing us to play and working harder, winning 50-50’s. Expectant. And the next games against them weren’t any better really but don’t think it was in the same manner.

So small sample to judge from me there but it’s a fear I have that we see Slovan, think of the 5-1 game, and we go into thinking we’re in the CL already when we need to make sure of it, they’ll remember it and be desperate to make up for the embarrassment.

I’m always nervy when we play in Europe as favourites it’s always been us at our worst but Slovan feel a banana skin waiting to happen. Full club if it is them need to approach it as we would if it were Basel or something we drew, the support included. We have a part to play in that stuff, atmosphere when we’re flat and expecting a canter feeds into the team. Think the Cup Final it really did, when we scored the reaction wasn’t like it was a cup final goal, flat in the stands abd the pitch. Not blaming the support btw, just you can feel those sort of days when it’s just flat and expectant. Slovan has that danger for me. Forget the last game for them, prove this one

 

We can postpone a league game between European ties now right? Might be a long shot but does anyone know when it'll be confirmed if we decide to do this? Planning on coming up from London for the Livi game on the 23rd and want to book transport asap but need to be sure the game's actually going ahead first!

 

Following yesterday’s Champions League play-off round draw, which saw Celtic drawn against either FC Kairat or Slovan Bratislava, the dates have now been set for both matches.

The first match will be played at Celtic Park on Wednesday, August 20 (KO: 8pm CPT) with the return leg set to take place in either Kazakhstan or Slovakia on Tuesday, August 26.

 

The trip to Almaty has nightmare written all over it.

Further east than Afghanistan and Pakistan apparently.

 

Yep, just a stone's throw from the Chinese border. Closer to South Korea than Scotland.

"The distance between Almaty and Seoul is approximately 2,717 miles.
The distance between Almaty and Glasgow is 3536 miles"

European tie, but.

 

Pretty sure it'll be Bratislava but is that us with the guaranteed extra day than them before Ibrox?

 

They might no have a game..

 

Dilemmas, dilemmas.....

Nah, get the * out

 

My first thoughts were on exactly these same lines TBH. Worrying, especially given the home game is first, so it'll be harder to turn it around if we do screw up.

 

Madness.

Not be long until we’re going to Riyadh for our CL qualifiers.

Shorter journey right enough.

 

The SFA suits run Scottish football like a bowling club and are set in their ways. A modern, innovative approach is not on their agenda (just like the feckers on our board) and that's why Scottish football is being held back

 

Just thinking, they'll likely ask for their game v St. Mirren to be postponed or they'd play, Sun/Tues..

We could really pile the pressure if we do them at Ibrox

 

Huns have had the request granted for them not to play


Meanwhile we’ve opted to play Livingston that weekend

 

Cheers, both make sense..

Hopefully they'll no have a game

 

I think this is the best thing to do. Gives us the chance to go 5 points clear into Ibrox with the opportunity to make that 8. Put our foot firmly on their throats.

 

Early advantage helps I suppose


Let them focus on Europe

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they did that. St Mirren is a nightmare game for them..

I only saw their highlights, rubbing it in to zombies at a wedding but it showed they don't have the squad, players or fitness even at this early stage to go back to back big games..

The fact Motherwell were fitter and it wasn't a fluke type draw tells you everything. Should never be the case..

 

From the SPL website




The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) can today provide a further update on match arrangements for round three of the William Hill Premiership.

As previously confirmed, Dundee United v Aberdeen on Saturday August 23 has been postponed following a request by Aberdeen, who will be participating in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.

The new policy, which allows clubs involved in UEFA play-off matches to postpone their round three fixtures, was approved by the SPFL Board in April to support clubs aiming to reach the league phase of UEFA competitions.

Falkirk v Hibernian was selected by Premier Sports for live broadcast on Saturday August 23, kick-off 5.45pm, but, as earlier announced, following a request from Hibernian will also be postponed if they overcome FK Partizan to reach the Conference League play-off round.

St Mirren v Rangers has been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports on Sunday August 24, kick-off 12 noon, but following a request from Rangers will be postponed if they reach the play-off round of the Champions League.

Following discussions with Celtic, their home match versus Livingston remains scheduled for 3.00pm on Saturday August 23, alongside Hearts v Motherwell and Kilmarnock v Dundee.

New dates for postponed round three matches will be announced following publication of the UEFA league phase fixtures at the end of August