Champions League Qualifying 3-4th August

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Champions League Qualifying 3-4th August

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Champions League third qualification round, first leg results on

Tuesday 27th July
The New Saints (Wales) 1 Anderlecht (Belgium) 3
Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) 1 Lech Poznan (Poland) 0
Unirea Urziceni (Romania) 0 Zenit St Petersburg (Russia) 0
Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine) 3 Ghent (Belgium) 0
Litex Lovech (Bulgaria) 1 Zilina (Slovakia) 1
Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) 1 Salzburg (Austria) 1


Wednesday 28th July
BATE Borisov (Belarus) 0 FC Copenhagen (Denmark) 0
Aktobe Lento (Kazakhstan) 1 Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) 0
Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 1 Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) 1
Debrecen (Hungary) 0 Basel (Switzerland) 2
Young Boys (Switzerland) 2 Fenerbahce (Turkey) 2
Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands) 1 PAOK Salonika (Greece) 1
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) 3 HJK Helsinki (Finland) 0
AIK Stockholm (Sweden) 0 Rosenborg Trondheim (Norway) 1
Braga (Portugal) 3 Celtic (Scotland) 0

[MickeyPaul]

Pretty much the odds I was expecting for Celtic who I still think will edge the game (not sure about it being enough though). Watched them against Arsenal and they do seem to have some major fuckups at the back (another bad one from their keeper... oh dear) which is a worry but they looked to have more coherence and energy about them, albeit in a friendly.

Was just reading this from Hooper on BBC and I reeeeally like his attitude:

Gary Hooper believes Celtic can overturn the 3-0 Champions League qualifying lead Braga enjoy if they get an early goal in the return leg.
"I think we've got every chance of getting through," said the striker. "If we attack them and press really high, I think we'll have no problem.
"If we get one we'll get a few and win 4-0 I reckon. I don't think they were the best at home.
"We have to get them on the back foot and take our chances."

BBC Sport - Football - Celtic can overcome Braga deficit, says Gary Hooper

I'll probably be having a small bet on Celtic winning. Braga looked like they can be hard to break down in the 1st leg and Celtic not convincing enough at the back as yet for me so... I'm being cautious.

[traeth]

Anderlecht vs TNS

Anderlecht totally dominated the first half of the first leg , scored early two goals and then eased off , TNS scored in the second half to make it 1-2 , the away team stepped up the pace and Anderlecht scored again in the 70th minute.
Prior to the first leg TNS' manager was quoted as being happy with being in this round as it meant that they were in the Europa cup if they lost .
The Welsh Premier site says that tonight is a

sell-out 25,000 crowd in Brussels

this is a quote from TNS' mananger

"We have nothing to lose,"
"We won’t be silly but we know we have to throw caution to the wind a little bit if we are to score three goals."

TNS are usually very defensive when they play away in the Welsh League , I cannot see how they will cope with this difference in class
The Belgium league is of a much higher standard of the Welsh League so with TNS playing an "alien" style I can see Anderlecht winning by a few goals so I'm going for a home win with an Asian Handicap

Anderlecht -2 @ 1.8 with bet365

[martini]

YES, odds are falling for Celtic... many bets Homewin CELTIC!

[Bigkegman]

good call traeth - just popped in and saw your post and thought i'll have some of that and just realised they won 3-0 tonight

I also thing Celtic will win but will struggle to qualify. Odds are a bit skinny but I'm going to through them in - cant believe its not televised but justin and iraqi dont work well for me so it may just have to be the radio for commentary

[HastGill1]

TNS were well beaten (had a wee amount on them on the -1.5AH, after eventing I know), but can hold their heads high, bet traeth felt his heart skip a beat when the TNS striker put the ball a yard or so wide in the 91st min! Good call though..

Earnt about 600,000 so far with more on the way, which is major money at their level, congrats to all the Welsh teams actually, your improved performances in Europe this season have cost me more than a few weeks wages trust me..

[HastGill1]

Originally Posted by martini

YES, odds are falling for Celtic... many bets Homewin CELTIC!

We disagree again! Consider Braga to be half decent value, knocking on evens for the +0.5AH, dont know how anyone can consider betting on a side that didnt register a shot on goal on the first leg at that price..Celtics home record in europe is excellent in years gone by..but that is exactly what they are, years gone by, not the same side anymore..sure the Celtic fans on here will disagree with me though!

[slick]

Aye good shout Traeth, especially on the -2 as i never touch them. I don't mind going +/- 1 either way but find it extremely hard to bag a -2.

[slick]

I said the same thing about Celtic in last weeks thread Hasty, Celtic are not half the side they used to be and allthough I would expect them to beat Braga by the odd goal , its not impossible Braga will just play them on the counter considering the lead they have and sting them as Celtics defence does look pretty dire.
Odds are probably right on paper when you look at the sides and compare the history, but when i back at odds on I like to feel a bit of confidence about the bet, that cannot be said of Celtic.

[ONEDUNME]

Well it's my first maximum bet if the new season. Me and Mickey were talking after the first leg and agreed that anything around evens was a good bet for Celtic. A three goal cushion is enough to make even the most attack minded team sit back and play on the counter and celtics home record in europe is another factor that just makes me want to be on it at 10/11.

Fully confident they will score a couple- maybe concede one too as its hard work trying to break down ten men behind the ball and there's every chance that they will over commit at some stage. 2 or 3 goals to 1 would be my guess

[Pokoko]

Celtic will be public bet today, for sure. But I do not see any other result than Celtic to win. The drown will help them and even to win by 1-0, I'm sure they will win.

And not to be a spam post, I will show you this CL pick of one good tipster. The pick is taken from Football predictions with detailed analysis - Soccerfame:

Celtic have a mountain to climb to stay in the Champions League after a 3-0 defeat away to Braga.

The Bhoys had terrible performance in their opening game of the season, especially by the defence. Many mistakes at the back and the ultra-defensive display from the team at all, was a bad combination. It was the first game of the season and together with the tradition Celtic to play poor away - the defeat was not so unpredictable, but I doubt Celtic fans expected so bad result. At the weekend, Celtic took part in Emirates Cup 2010. The Hoops finished second in the standings, but only because they scored four goals in the two games. Celtic made a late come-back to split the points with Lyon 2-2 and on the next day the Celts were again close to equalize in the end of the match versus Arsenal but achieved only 2-3 defeat. The players, which are expected to start versus Braga, played for around 30 minutes in both games and their performance was a bit better than in Portugal. Aiden McGeady and Andreas Hinkel play for Celtic in Emirates Cup and probably the coach Lennon will welcome both players in the starting line-up on Wednesday. Celtic used to play bad away, but they are very strong on home soil in the European competitions. I remember season 2005-06, when the situation was pretty similar. Celtic lost first-leg versus Artmedia 0-5 in Slovakia, but in Scotland the clash very close to go into extra time, but the Celts earned only a 4-0 win. The fans will fill Parkhead and support the team during the 90 minutes and I think Celtic will show one difference face in Scotland.

Sporting Braga finished on second position in the domestic league last season - runners-up to Benfica, but earned more points than teams like Porto and Sporting Lisboa, they enter the Champions League for the first time. Braga used to play every season in League Europa (UEFA Cup), but without big successes. Braga opened the score versus Celic by a controversial penalty for handball against midfielder Ki Sung Yeung. This goal changed the situation on the field and Braga started to push Celtic even more. Next two goals were scored again by set pieces. I can admit Braga was the better side, but a 3-0 defeat was a bit harsh for Celtic. I am sure that Braga travel to Glasgow with the thought what even a narrow loss will be enough to quality the team for the next stage. Bit if they score an away goal, they can afford to lose even by one or two goals and to progress in the tournament. The coach Domingos Paciencia does not have any unavailable important players.

I just hope Celtic to score an early goal and the game to start smoothly.
Good luck to all who will try the Celts.

[Betfly]

On the Celtic game I'll be waiting in running to get > evs.

I agree with others & don't think they'll qualify but may well win by odd goal.


Celtic not looking clever over the Stuart Baxter scenario & McGeady injured/not injured...

[MickeyPaul]

I'm definitely not as confident with Celtic as some of you but will still back them. It's looking like it's going to be difficult to get a stream too.

Possibility a couple will be available but I'm guessing the demand will be such that.. they're going to run like shit.

[traeth]

Originally Posted by HastGill1

Earnt about 600,000 so far with more on the way, which is major money at their level, congrats to all the Welsh teams actually, your improved performances in Europe this season have cost me more than a few weeks wages trust me..

I was expecting a bigger defeat to be honest , like you I lost as I opposed the Welsh clubs in the earlier rounds.
TNS will progress into the next round of the Europa Cup , their improved performances this year will improve their UEFA coefficient for the teams and the league.
I'm not much of a TNS fan so will be looking forward to their demise in the Europa

I've also followed you boys on Celtic following their performances in the Emirates on the weekend , I got on early as recommended

p.s Was not worried about the last minute miss Hast as I did not know about it until this morning