Tonight’s game is totally winnable. There can be no excuses, nothing less than three points will suffice.
Tonight sees Celtic kick off our Champions League campaign under the lights at Celtic Park in what’s sure to be a brilliant occasion. Slovan Bratislava are our opponents and they are undoubtedly a decent side, as all teams at this level are, but it’s a game from our point of view that’s very winnable and it’s essential that we collect maximum points from a home game against a pot four opponent.
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Brendan’s Celtic team is playing some good football at this moment in time, and more importantly we have that winning mentality. We also have the advantage of playing at home with a fantastic crowd behind us. A crowd that will make it a very hostile and intimidating environment for the Slovakian side and will inspire every player wearing a Celtic jersey.
We’ll see another crackling atmosphere at Celtic Park tonight. Stick with the team, there will be ups and downs in the game but if Celtic get their passing and moving game going, they’ll give Bratislava a lot of trouble. pic.twitter.com/sWin1maUGr
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) September 18, 2024
Slovan are a side who should be respected as like ourselves they are champions of their domestic league, and also sit top of the their own domestic league at this moment in time, and have come through the qualifiers from the first round to the ground stages. That is a pretty special achievement and it shows that they have the mental toughness to play away from home in European football. Tonight the Celtic support must put that to the test and see if they can handle the Celtic Noise in all its glory and intensity.
Happy drowning out the Champions League anthem with incoherent screaming day to all who will be in attendance.
Let’s make some noise for the Bhoys 🍀 pic.twitter.com/jeokKFjyvG
— Boyle (@Boyle_67) September 18, 2024
Slovan is decent but that doesn’t mean that winning this game is beyond our reach. Far from it. With all due respect to Slovan this is a game we would have handpicked as our opening game if given the choice.
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If we have any hope of doing well in Europe’s elite club competition then this is a game we must win. There can be no excuses, it’s all there in front of us to kick off with a valuable three points on board and if Celtic can get an unusually good start – we never seem to win our opening game – then chances are we’ll kick on from here and have an outstanding campaign.
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Slovan will sit deep and look for a point, or even to steal it with a breakaway or something from a set piece, so concentration at the back has to be paramount to protect Kasper Schmeichel’s clean sheet. If we do that then we’ll be expected to win by a few goals, let’s get it done Celtic – and remember MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE BHOYS all night long!
Sometimes you have to fight right to the end to dig out a winner as Donati did against Shakhtar. There were predictable scenes in the stands when that one hit the net in injury time… pic.twitter.com/E2XbxACqs2
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) September 18, 2024
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Morning all, match day for Celtic and it’s going to be a noisy night at Paradise. The Hoops played Slovan 60 years ago and won both legs of the tie 1-0. It’ll be a tough tie but I’m quietly confident the team can prevail tonight. (Pathe News) pic.twitter.com/jwVUbvVPv4
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) September 18, 2024