Luke McCowan has outlined that a crucial ‘away win’ is Celtic’s next step on the continent ahead of a huge Champions League encounter with Dinamo Zagreb tomorrow evening…
The Hoops travel to Croatia’s capital having accumulated an outstanding eight points from five Champions League group-phase matches this season.
The new 36-team format has served up exciting ties with Brendan Rodgers’ side most recently drawing with impressive Belgian outfit Club Brugge 1-1 in Glasgow’s East End a fortnight ago.
Just two wins from 41 away matches
However, since Europe’s elite club competition revamped in the early nineties, Celtic have played 41 matches away from home and have only won on two occasions.
Conceding a staggering 104 goals during that period, and scoring just the 27 times, Celtic have only ever taken 11 points on the road in the Champions League.
Celtic’s last win on their travels in the competition came in season 2017/2018 courtesy of an excellent 3-0 victory against then Belgian champions Anderlecht under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers.
Prior to that famous win in Brussels, it was Neil Lennon who broke the away-day curse for Celtic in the Champions League 12 years ago.
Georgios Samaras’ stoppage time header against Spartak Moscow meant Lennon’s men became the first Hoops side to win outside the environs of Celtic Park in the Champions League since Celtic’s 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the European Cup in 1986.
Dinamo Zagreb’s five match winless run
Given Dinamo Zagreb’s five match winless run, and dreadful home record this season, there is a sense Celtic can capitalise on the Croatians dismal run of form tomorrow night.
Three points for Rodgers’ side would secure a lucrative knockout playoff round fixture in February, and double digit games in the Champions League for the inaugural time.
Speaking to the media ahead of flying out to Zagreb this afternoon, midfield playmaker Luke McCowan spoke about the importance of breaking barriers and becoming the first Celtic side to win on the continent in the competition in seven years.
Winning away in the Champions League is massive
“I think winning away in the Champions League is obviously massive. So we will obviously look to try and do that,” Luke said, as reported by Daily Record. “I think that’s probably one of the things the boys are looking towards is trying to get that, but, listen, we know it’s a hard thing to do.”
McCowan added, “since 2016, it’s been unbelievable teams playing here and playing away in the Champions League, so we just know it’s a tough thing to do. But you never know, it can maybe happen come Tuesday. You try and look to win every game, regardless of where it is, but we know it’s going to be so hard. It’s a tough place to go.”
“Obviously, off the back of a couple of tough games this week, you know it’ll be hard because you’re away in the Champions League anyway, but the boys will be up for it and ready to go come Tuesday.”
Conor Spence
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