The Europa League has not been kind to Celtic so far but Wednesday night’s home match against Tel-Aviv offers a chance for Celtic and Tony Mowbray to right a few wrongs. Events in Hamburg will have as much of a bearing on Celtic’s hopes as their own result but a win over Hapoel would be meaningful regardless of Hamburg’s result.
Mowbray laid Celtic’s unwanted away record to rest in the Champions League qualifiers when he presided over the club’s first European away win in 24 games. However, another unwanted statistic is that the Parkhead club have failed to win a home match in European competition this season. Should that run continue tomorrow night, elimination will mean there is no chance to change that fact before next season and the black mark would be part of any assessment of Mowbray’s first season.
A first European win at Parkhead for the manager would not only let Celtic build some momentum after Saturday’s SPL win over St Mirren but also give the faithful at Celtic Park something to cheer. There were empty seats last weekend, no doubt partly because of the side’s recent form, and a good display could restore some belief in the side’s potential.
Celtic’s Europa League started in Israel and looked to be getting off to a flyer when Georgios Samaras gave the Hoops a first-half lead. Celtic didn’t seem to know whether to stick or twist though and Hapoel got back into the match in the second half through Vucicevic before Lala bagged a late winner.
Hapoel used the result as a springboard and now top Group C and travel to Glasgow needing a point to make it through to the next round. Celtic sit bottom of the group with just two points from four games.
In truth, Celtic have been better than their points return suggests. Mowbray’s side have held possession well for spells in all of their games so far but have lacked a cutting edge. The same could be said for their league form but they looked to have turned a corner on Saturday, scoring three, having a Zheng Zhi goal chalked off and a Scott MacDonald penalty saved.
While Vucicevic will need to be tracked carefully and Hapoel’s good domestic form underlines the fact that they have some quality, Celtic could be coming on to a game. Marc-Antoine Fortune has had a couple of games since returning from injury and is approaching match sharpness. Scott McDonald has rediscovered his goalscoring touch and Mowbray himself has talked up Samaras’ ability.
The loss of Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney to injury would hamper any team but Celtic appear to be coping with Barry Robson now back in the first team and Zhi showing signs he is settling well.
Further drive will be given to Celtic’s players with the transfer window looming ever nearer. Osman Chavez is already at the club on trial with Ki Sung-Yong arriving on Tuesday night to complete his signing. Olivier Giroud is being talked of as a possible signing and Mowbray has had his scouts out in force. Those in the first team will be well aware that they have to perform to keep their place and showing they can do it in Europe is the ideal way to stake a claim for a place in Mowbray’s Celtic team long-term.
Ultimately if Hamburg get a point at home to Rapid, the headlines will be about Celtic’s European exit. A win however, could lay the groundwork for continued success even it is not in the Europa League.
Last updated: 01 December 2009, 15:06
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