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Trivia
- First game in the "Road to Milan" run to the European Cup final in 1970.It was a busy week for Scottish teams in Europe with Celtic away, Rangers at home to Steaua Bucharest (2-0 win) in the ECWC, Dundee Utd away to Newcastle (2-1 loss), Dunfermiline at home to Bordeaux (4-0 win) and Kilmarnock away to FC Zurich (3-2 loss) all in the Fairs Cup.
- An 18 strong squad left for Switzerland on the Monday morning. The squad included Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain.
- David Hay's European debut. Bobby murdoch did not make the team. He was suffering from 'flu and was sent to bed immediately on arrival in Switzerland.Tommy Callaghan was also out with a boil on the back of the neck.In came Jim Brogan for Bobby Murdoch and John Hughes was added to the forward line with Harry Hood dropping to the bench
- Basle captain Karl Odermatt presented Billy McNeill with flowers before the game.
- The flight home on the Thursday morning was delayed for two hours when the plane from Heathrow failed to arrive on time.
Match Review
(From www.stateofthegame.com: http://stateofthegame.co.uk/category/celtic/)
FC Basel 0 – 0 Celtic (Att: 38,000)
Celtic opened their campaign in September of 1969 away to FC Basel of Switzerland, who were managed by the former German international Helmut Benthaus. At the time there were concerns that the Celtic team had lost their edge and perhaps a game against the likes of Real Madrid or AC Milan might see their tournament get off to a more dynamic start.
Manager Jock Stein however was confident that his side would be ready to rise to the occasion, having tested their “European away game” against Aberdeen in the League Cup the previous week. Stein had set Celtic up as an attacking side, though in away ties in Europe he recognised that they had to drop their natural attacking instincts and become more defensive.
38,000 spectators watched a match that Celtic were always in command of, although they couldn’t find a way through to goal. As it was, they were very happy to come away with a no score draw, confident that they could finish the job back in Glasgow.
REPORT
Celtic were without midfield pair Murdoch and Callaghan through injury and started the game nervously. Three times in the first half John Fallon was called to rescue his team with fine saves.
At half time Jock Stein motivated his players and in the second half Celtic had most of the play and should have won. They had several chances the best being when Wallace missed from 10 yards out.
Fallon made another good save from Hauser before the end and at full time the Swiss crowd rose to give Jimmy Johnstone a standing ovation. The wee man was Celtic's best outfield player and at times it took three or four Basle players to stop him.
Celtic were clear favourites to go through in the second leg.
Teams
FC Basel:
Kunz, Keifer, Fischli, Odermatt, Michaud, Siegenchaler, Balmer, Benthaus, Hauser, Ramseir (Rahmen 83), Wenger
Scorers:
Celtic:
Fallon, Hay, Gemmell, Brogan, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Lennox, Chalmers (Hood 46), Wallace, Hughes. Subs: Simpson, Craig
Scorers:
Referee: Rudi Glöckner (East Germany)
Attendance: 37,587
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 18th September 1969
