2014-08-20: NK Maribor 1-1 Celtic, Champions League – Qualifying – Play-off (1st Leg)

Trivia

• 2014-08-20: NK Maribor V Celtic, Champions League – Qualifying – Play-off (1st Leg)
• Champions League 2014-15
• First leg qualifying round.
• Stokes lone striker in 4 5 1 formation. He's now though still not scored in sixteen European games. One estimate puts it at 972 mins without goals.
• McGregor on the other hand has scored in three away games in a row.
• Celtic saw their Champions League qualifying campaign take another bizarre administrative twist when they mistakenly left Efe Ambrose at home. Celtic believed the Nigerian defender, sent off in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie against Legia Warsaw, was still suspended for tonight’s game in Slovenia. But following their arrival in Maribor yesterday afternoon, they discovered Ambrose is in fact eligible and made plans for him to travel and join the rest of the squad.
• Incredibly Celtic were out 6-1 on agg in last round, but second leg was annulled after Legia fielded an ineligible player for the match for just 5 minutes. Celtic through on away goals 4-4.
• Legia lose in their appeal to UEFA and CSA(arbitration for sports).
• Boerrigter suspended for two domestic games after diving v St Johnstone for penalty won. He accepted that he dived v St Johnstone. Fair dues to him.
• Transfer Window open:
• Transfers in: Craig Gordon; Jo Inge Berget (loan); Denayer (loan)
• Transfers out: Mouyokolo (free); Tony Watt, Fraser Forster (£10m)

Review

(Georgie Bhoy of KDS)
Much better from Celtic last night.

A 3-1 victory wouldn't have flattered us. Strong performances from Johansen, Kayal (best game in the hoops for years) and Mulgrew who redeemed himself after a few shockers.

Forwards Stokes and Berget worked hard without much reward. McGregor flitted between inspired and careless.

He's young, so he'll learn. Same with Denayer. Remarkable that this was only the lad's 2nd competitive game, ever. Gordon too continued his rehabilitation. He's only going to improve with fitness.

Most impressed with Deila though. A far more practical and pragmatic approach to this after the Legia shambles and it worked.

Halfway there. Now, get the job done next week.

And FFS Pedro, give him a genuine striker.

Teams

NK Maribor

Substitutes

• 01 Cotman
• 07 Mejac
• 08 Sallalich
• 11 Zahovic
• 14 Mendy
• 44 Bordignon
• 70 Mertelj

Goal

• Bohar 14

Celtic

Substitutes

• 04 Ambrose Emuobo
• 06 Biton
• 15 Commons
• 20 Pukki
• 24 Zaluska
• 28 Griffiths
• 53 Henderson

Goal

• McGregor 6′

Ref: Pavel Kralovec
Attendance:

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
• Audio Report: Paradise Report

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

Maribor Celtic Possession 52%48% 90mins Shots 13 11 On target 5 4 Corners 7 8 Fouls 8 11

Articles

NK Maribor 1-1 Celtic: Hoops learn Legia lessons
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/nk-maribor-1-1-celtic-hoops-learn-legia-lessons-1-3516130
by STEPHEN HALLIDAY AT STADION LJUDSKI VRT

on the 20 August 2014 23:13 Published 20/08/2014 21:35 Tweet Print this 117 comments Have your say!
CELTIC will go into the final stage of their curious game of Champions League hokey-cokey believing they are more in than out after finding nothing to divide them from a lively but limited Maribor side. Scorers: Maribor: Maribor – Bohar (14); Celtic – McGregor (6) Ronny Deila’s men are now in prime position to make the most of their initial third qualifying round elimination from the tournament being overturned due to Legia Warsaw’s administrative incompetence. The new Celtic manager showed he had learned the harsh lessons of that 6-1 aggregate beating, adopting a more prosaic approach against the Slovenian champions. Callum McGregor’s sixth minute goal – his third Champions League strike of this qualifying campaign – provided the platform for a result which makes Celtic favourites to reach the group stage for a third successive season. Damjan Bohar levelled quickly for Maribor but on the balance of play, parity was the least Celtic deserved. Pragmatism does not come easily to Deila. He has made that abundantly clear in the opening weeks of his tenure with his regular insistence that he has clear principles about a commitment to attacking football which he is reluctant to abandon. But there was clear evidence of a willingness to at least temporarily compromise those ideals last night. Open to accusations of tactical recklessness in the 4-1 defeat away to Legia Warsaw, Deila adopted a more cautious strategy. His preferred 4-2-3-1 formation morphed into a 4-5-1 with playmaker Kris Commons, so often the key man on the big occasion, sacrificed to accommodate the more defensively minded Beram Kayal in central midfield. McGregor and Jo Inge Berget were detailed to provide the support from wide areas to central striker Anthony Stokes whenever possible, although their roles also involved a greater degree of focus on assisting in the protection of the back four. There was another big selection call from Deila in that department with 19-year-old Jason Denayer, who only made his senior debut against Dundee United on Saturday, partnering Virgil van Dijk in central defence. The Manchester City loanee was preferred to Efe Ambrose, who arrived late to join the team in Slovenia after confusion over a suspension, while Mikael Lustig returned to fill the right-back slot. Celtic’s realigned formation enjoyed considerable success in blunting Maribor’s effectiveness as an attacking force, while the visitors’ energetic pressing of the ball high up the pitch reaped its reward. McGregor’s early strike was the perfect start for Deila, albeit his team had collapsed from a similarly promising position in Warsaw when the young midfielder had also given them the lead. But McGregor is positively thriving on the first-team opportunity handed to him this season and his fourth goal in Celtic’s first seven games of the campaign came when he capitalised on some slack Maribor defending. Stefan Johansen found Berget on the left of the penalty area with a clever pass and, after a poor first touch, he got away a shot which home keeper Jasmin Handanovic could only parry into the path of McGregor, who gleefully accepted the close range tap-in. Celtic held onto their lead in Warsaw for just two minutes. Here, they managed only eight before Maribor levelled. Van Dijk and Denayer were carved open by Zeljko Filipovic’s through ball to Marcos Tavares, giving the Brazilian striker a run on goal. He went down under Denayer’s attempt to recover the situation, the ball breaking into the path of Bohar who drilled a low shot beyond Craig Gordon. But there was to be no sudden capitulation from Celtic on this occasion. They proceeded to play some smart and effective possession football which should have brought them further goals before half-time. Maribor looked especially vulnerable at set pieces. with a series of corners causing them real anxiety – Charlie Mulgrew had a header cleared off the line by Filipovic from one, Lustig nodded over from close range from another and then Van Dijk’s netbound header was inadvertently blocked on the line by his team-mate Johansen. The home side were being forced to rely on counter-attacks as their best chance of threatening at the other end. Gordon duly made a couple of decent saves before the interval, first diving to his left to turn Peter Stojanovic’s shot behind and then blocking Agim Ibraimi’s drive before Dare Vrsic blazed the rebound over the top. Celtic would certainly have been the more satisfied side at the break but it was a re-energised Maribor who began the second half on the front foot, clearly desperate to secure a lead to take with them to Glasgow. Tavares and Bohar both came close with shots from distance as Maribor, suddenly playing with far greater intensity, imposed themselves. Celtic were indebted to Gordon when the keeper made a terrific diving save to his right to keep out Ibraimi’s header at the end of a move sparked by left-back Emilio Izaguirre cheaply conceding possession. It was Celtic who were now more reliant on the counter-attack and they should have made one such raid count in the 62nd minute. McGregor did superbly well to race down the right and pick out Stokes with a perfect cross. But the Irish striker’s close-range header lacked conviction and was blocked by defender Aleksander Rajcevic. It at least signalled a better spell for Celtic. Stokes missed another fine chance when he dragged a shot wide from 14 yards, before Johansen was even more wasteful when a poor touch inside the box allowed Handanovic to scoop the ball off his toes after a tremendous surge through the middle from the Norwegian midfielder. Both teams had penalty claims turned down in the closing stages – Kayal going down under Mitja Viler’s challenge, then Denayer living dangerously with a challenge on substitute Jean-Phillipe Mendy. Gordon made another fine save to deny Ales Mertelj’s long-range rocket and Celtic held out for a result they would have signed for beforehand. NK Maribor: Handanovic, Stojanovic. Rajcevic, Suler, Viler; Dervisevic (Mertelj 81), Filipovic; Vrsic (Mendy 73), Ibraimi, Bohar (Sallalich 79); Tavares. Subs not used: Cotman, Mejac, Arghus, Zahovic. Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; McGregor, Mulgrew, Kayal (Bitton 87), Johansen, Berget (Ambrose 73); Stokes (Griffiths 80). Subs not used: Zaluska, Ambrose, Commons, Pukki, Henderson.

BBC
By Alasdair Lamont
BBC Scotland's senior football reporter at Ljudski vrt Celtic restored a sense of European pride with a very creditable Champions League play-off first-leg draw with Maribor in Slovenia.

Callum McGregor scored his third goal of this qualifying campaign to put Ronny Deila's side in front early on.
They were quickly pegged back by a well-taken Damjan Bohar equaliser.
Both sides had numerous further chances but Celtic, reinstated to the competition in place of Legia Warsaw, are now clear favourites to go through.
Deila's men only took their place in the play-off round because their conquerors in the previous round fielded an ineligible player.
Callum McGregor scores for Celtic against NK Maribor McGregor's goal gives Celtic an advantage ahead of the second leg
The Norwegian stressed the importance of learning lessons from the defeats by Legia and, on the whole, it appeared both he and his players had done that.
This was a more mature performance and gives the Scottish champions a terrific opportunity of progressing to the lucrative group stage when NK Maribor visit Celtic Park on Tuesday.
Perhaps crucially they bring back an away goal, which had a familiar look about it.
Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
Interview – Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor
McGregor's start to the season has been a sensational one and, just as he did in Reykjavik and Warsaw, he put Celtic ahead.
Stefan Johansen's deep cross was perfect for Jo Inge Berget, who had done well to stay onside, and though his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic, young winger McGregor was on hand to smash the ball into the net.
Celtic looked far more composed and much less vulnerable to the counter-attack than they had in Poland, but a fragility at the heart of their defence was exposed as Zeljko Filipovic slid a pass between Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer for Bohar to tuck past the hitherto untroubled Craig Gordon.
Damjan Bohar celebrates after scoring for NK Maribor against Celtic Bohar levelled eight minutes after his side had fallen behind
But unlike the collapse in Warsaw, Celtic did not fold and but for two instances of real misfortune would have been back in front before half-time as first Charlie Mulgrew watched a back-post header cleared off the line by Filipovic before Van Dijk's effort smacked Johansen in the face, preventing an apparently inevitable goal.
Gordon had work to do too, pushing powerful shots from Petar Stojanovic and Agim Ibraimi away to safety in the first half and doing likewise with a second-half Ibraimi downward header.
But the keeper's best work came in the dying minutes as he threw himself high to his right to keep out another Ibraimi drive, this time from 35 yards.
Celtic were certainly forced to defend deeper in the second period but they had chances of their own – Van Dijk testing Handanovic from long range and Beram Kayal having what looked like a penalty turned down by Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, while Johansen also passed up a terrific chance after bursting through only to be blocked by Handanovic.
And though a second goal would have made for an even greater result to take back to Glasgow, they will still fancy their chances of reaching the group stage for a third successive season.

Live Text Commentary

Celtic: Ronny Deila satisfied after Maribor draw
BBC
Manager Ronny Deila has "a good feeling" about Celtic reaching the Champions League group stage after a 1-1 draw with Maribor in Slovenia. Callum McGregor's early strike gives Celtic the edge going into the play-off second leg in Glasgow next week. "We were well prepared and the players were fantastic for 90 minutes," enthused Deila. "We looked like a team, worked hard together and created chances. It's a good result but we could have won it." “I think we have to be more satisfied team. The away goal is vital, 1-1 is a much better result than 0-0” Ronny Deila Celtic manager Having been reinstated in the tournament in place of Legia Warsaw, who fielded an ineligible player in the previous round, Celtic were much-improved from two shambolic showings against the Poles. McGregor's goal came after just six minutes, with the 21-year-old knocking in the loose ball after Jo Inge Berget's shot had been saved. Damjan Bohar levelled an open game soon after, with both sides having chances to add to the tally. The visitors had the best of those, with a Charlie Mulgrew header cleared off the line and Stefan Johansen inadvertently blocking a net-bound header from team-mate Virgil van Dijk, while the Norwegian midfielder squandered a one-on-one opportunity against keeper Jasmin Handanovic. "We were closing to win more than they were," added Deila, who dropped last season's top scorer Kris Commons to the bench. "I think we have to be more satisfied team. The away goal is vital, 1-1 is a much better result than 0-0. "We learned a lesson in Legia, it was very early in the season and you try things but it is not just the system, they are fitter now and they know what is expected. It is getting better. "Maribor are a very good team who are good on the counter attack but we were well-organised and disciplined. Stefan Johansen blocked a net-bound header from Virgil van Dijk Stefan Johansen blocked a net-bound header from Virgil van Dijk "They will be more dangerous away than at home but we have the advantage of Celtic Park. We have to play with good balance and attack them in the right way." Deila's compatriot Johansen was a stand-out performer, full of energetic running and playing a great lofted pass to Berget in the build up to Celtic's goal. But the manager could not resist a joke about his role in denying Van Dijk a certain goal. "He was the best defender for Maribor," he laughed. "It was a fantastic save. "I think he was very good, it was a good performance by him, he was working hard, he is a leader on the pitch and he is progressing all the time. "He should have had a goal as well but I was pleased with him." McGregor scored his fourth goal of the season and Deila was thrilled by the forward's contribution. "He's an unbelievably good player," he said. "Not only good in offence but good in defence as well. "He worked hard for the team and he is very good on the ball. We can be proud he is a product of the Celtic youth department."