2019-07-17: Celtic 2-1 FK Sarajevo, European Cup

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Review

(AP of KDS forum)
Another crucial pre-season warm-up showing rustiness and a hint at the new style.
Tie was done last week, so there was no tension, and we could concentrate on what might be the season's style.

On last night's showing, there's no hope we could compete with the big teams in a CL group.

Full backs are a problem, the defence will be fine once there are real players for those positions and then we can visualise what we'll really be like.

Up front still lacking a bit of oomph.

Not a fan of the keeper launching it to noone when under no pressure. It just gives the opposition the ball back and with no one to aim at we'll be picked off in Europe when eventually put under pressure.

I'm not overly impressed with the new signing yet. I'm not convinced he's a "pure" striker of the ball and that's always a worry about players that should be able to provide longer passes or crosses. We'll see.

I'll revisit these early impressions, but we all know what most of the players who played last night can do, and there is no sign of any major change and I know it's early on, but without new blood who will be first picks, then we're going to have the fayre of the last two seasons to moan about, which means mostly dross to watch, with the occasional great game to rave about.

I only hope that once the fitness and match sharpness gets up to where it should be that we get exciting football, but the evidence of my own eyes tells me that Europe will probably be another distraction this season.

These qualifiers are a real downer for me. The slog of the 8 game tournament to get there emotionally negate the excitement of the possibility of qualifying just to be pumped by the billionaires' playthings.

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• 29Bain
• 16Morgan

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Celtic 2-1 Sarajevo (agg. 5-2): Hoops see off spirited Sarajevo to set up Nomme Kalju clash
Celtic's James Forrest evades Sarajevo goalscorer Benjamin Tatar's challenge
Celtic's James Forrest evades Sarajevo goalscorer Benjamin Tatar's challenge
Stephen Halliday
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-2-1-sarajevo-agg-5-2-hoops-see-off-spirited-sarajevo-to-set-up-nomme-kalju-clash-1-4966793
It was perhaps a little less straightforward or quite as convincing as Neil Lennon would have liked but Celtic’s passage into the second qualifying round of the Champions League was ultimately comfortable enough as goals from Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor saw off a spirited but outclassed Sarajevo side.

Benjamin Tatar’s leveller on the night for the Bosnian champions was the cause of brief consternation for Celtic but they regrouped rapidly to extend their unbeaten home run in European qualifiers to 14 matches.

With the comfort of a 3-1 lead from a potentially hazardous trip to the Bosnian capital last week, there was little prospect of Celtic being afflicted by any kind of nervous tension as they rubber-stamped their place in the next stage of the competition where they will face Estonian champions Nomme Kalju.

Nonetheless, Christie’s brilliantly finished goal midway through the first half did have a settling effect of sorts as it finally saw Lennon’s team find a level of fluency and rhythm which eluded them in the early stages of the match.

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Sarajevo had little option but to try and adopt an aggressively ambitious approach if they held out any hopes of turning the tie around. It took them just 62 seconds to indicate they had certainly not turned up at Celtic Park resigned to their fate.

That’s how long it took Husref Musemic’s side to force the ball beyond Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain but Mersudin Ahmetovic marginally mis-timed his run onto a clever pass from visiting skipper Krste Velkoski and the offside flag correctly relieved any immediate anxiety for the home support.

Belgian left-back Boli Bolingoli, the man in line to step into Kieran Tierney’s shoes should Celtic’s prize asset make his way to Arsenal this summer, made a less than assured start which was typified by a clumsy and needless foul on Amar Rahmanovic. Celtic couldn’t fully clear the resulting free-kick but Bain was untroubled as Anel Hebibovic slashed a shot wide from around 25 yards.

The hosts gradually started to move the ball quicker and hold onto it more effectively. There were more promising signs from the attack-minded Bolingoli when he latched onto Christie’s cute lay-off and saw his shot held by Vladan Kovacevic.

The Sarajevo goalkeeper was called into action again in the 25th minute as he did well to keep out a powerful McGregor shot after Jozo Simunovic’s surge from the back unsettled the visitors’ defence.

Before Sarajevo could regain their composure, Celtic made the breakthrough and stretched their aggregate lead just a minute later.

Odsonne Edouard, who had been the victim of a couple of hefty challenges earlier, found retribution in the best way possible as he cut in from the left and surged past two defenders, feeding the ball to Christie. The attacking midfielder controlled a difficult ball with a neat first touch before spearing a shot high beyond Kovacevic with his second.

Celtic sought to further increase the tempo and hammer home their superiority with Lewis Morgan, switching wings with James Forrest after starting the evening on the left, prominent in their pursuit of more goals.

Making only his second starting appearance for Celtic since joining them 18 months ago, Morgan looked threatening in attack while also diligent in attending to his defensive duties. He whipped a delicious ball across the face of the Sarajevo six-yard box which Edouard was narrowly unable to force home.
Sander Puri should feature for Nomme Kalju with the match likely to take place at the Kadriorg Stadium
Nomme Kalju – all you need to know about Celtic's…

With Sarajevo becoming increasingly stretched at the back, Edouard should have made it 2-0 in the 39th minute after an incisive move involving McGregor and Christie but the striker’s shot was tame and easily held by Kovacevic.

Sarajevo were losing their shape and discipline in equal measure, collecting a couple of bookings in quick succession just before the interval for Mirko Oremus and Benjamin Tatar, the latter’s challenge on McGregor sparking a brief scuffle among players from both sides as Celtic, not unreasonably, felt it should have been a straight red card.

Tatar went on to make his continued presence on the pitch felt when, completely out of context with a pattern of play in which Celtic seemed to be in cruise control, he equalised on the night for Sarajevo 18 minutes into the second half.

Celtic had passed up decent chances to put the tie completely out of the visitors’ reach, most notably when Bolingoli fluffed a shot wide from just six yards out. The full-back was then at fault for Sarajevo’s goal, getting caught out by Ahmetovic whose cross was flicked on by Rahmanovic to Tatar who had all the time he needed to take a touch and slide a left foot shot beyond Scott Bain.

Sarajevo still needed two more goals to take the tie into extra-time but there was suddenly a hint of apprehension in the air around Celtic Park. It evaporated fairly quickly as Celtic reasserted their dominance when McGregor gathered a pass from Christie and beat the wrong-footed Kovacevic with a powerful left foot shot from 20 yards.

The loudest cheer of the evening was reserved for the return to competitive action of Leigh Griffiths when the striker, sidelined since last December, replaced Edouard with 10 minutes remaining and received a standing ovation from all four sides of the stadium.

CELTIC: Bain, Ajer, Bitton, Simunovic, Bolingoli; Brown, McGregor; Forrest, Christie (Henderson 90), Morgan (Sinclair 87); Edouard (Griffiths 80). Subs not used: Gordon, Jullien, Hayes, Ralston.

SARAJEVO: Kovacevic, Hebibovic, Serbecic, Lazic, Hodzic; Rahmanovic (Guzina 83), Oremus, Velkoski; Tatar (Dokanovic 72), Ahmetovic, Milanovic (Sisic 60). Subs not used: Dizdarevic, Sabanovic, Kurdic, Handzic.

BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48969949

By Martin Dowden

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

From the section Champions League

Celtic's Ryan Christie celebrates
Ryan Christie opened the scoring for Celtic

Celtic will face Estonian side Nomme Kalju in the Champions League second qualifying round after an ultimately straightforward win over FK Sarajevo.

Leading 3-1 from last week's first leg in Bosnia, the Scottish champions had an early scare when Mersudin Ahmetovic had an effort ruled out for offside.

However, Celtic went ahead through Ryan Christie's smart finish and, although Benjamin Tatar equalised, Callum McGregor's fine finish from distance restored the three-goal cushion and secured a 5-2 aggregate victory.

Celtic will host the first leg next Wednesday against Nomme Kalju, who surprised Macedonian champions Shkendija to progress on away goals.

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Result never in doubt amid more lessons

Celtic's progression was never seriously in doubt, although that early offside effort initially gave home supporters something to ponder.

Sarajevo were always unlikely to overcome the 3-1 first-leg deficit and so it proved. This contest seemed a question of whether Celtic could find a route to break down a well organised side and, in the meantime, build more fitness and confidence.

Midway through the first half, though, manager Neil Lennon appeared to show a little frustration at what he was seeing. There was a lack of tempo and threat.

They suddenly clicked and, after a period of quality possession in which they stretched the visitors, the opener arrived. It was Odsonne Edouard's determination to surge into the box, followed by Christie's fine finish, that quashed any hope of a shock.

That appeared to settle Celtic and chances began to flow, with the visitors unable to break out.

However, as in the first leg, there are lessons to be learned at this early stage of the season. In Bosnia, Lennon's men cheaply conceded, then defended a set-piece poorly to allow Sarajevo the opener. This time, it was real sloppiness from recent recruit Boli Bolingoli that allowed Sarajevo to equalise.

It is something that Celtic can ill afford as they progress through this qualifying process. The opposition will get better and the consequences potentially harsher.

There was no need to panic in this circumstance and McGregor's fine finish ensured a positive home result for supporters to enjoy.

Another positive was the return of Leigh Griffiths as a late substitute. That reintroduction earned a wonderful reception. Once fully fit, the striker may have a significant contribution to make in the months ahead.

The focus now turns to what looks like a favourable tie against the Estonians.
Celtic stats
'Two good goals & job done' – analysis

Former Celtic defender John Hughes on Sportsound

It was a very good performance played at a really good tempo. Two good goals, and the job's done. Hopefully there aren't any injuries and now they're into the next round.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on Sportsound