The upcoming second leg tie in the Europa League between Zenit St Petersburg and Celtic is greatly anticipated by the Celtic supporters worldwide. For Celtic fans, we see a great chance to take on one of Europe’s top teams in a stadium that will host the World Cup semi-final later this year, as well as having the possibility to progress into the next round of the competition following the excellent performance produced by Brendan Rodgers’ side on Thursday night at Celtic Park. That win came about thanks to a composed finish from Celtic academy graduate Callum McGregor and gave the Hoops a crucial 1-0 victory to take to St. Petersburg.
For Celtic fans, the performance against Zenit was a much needed confidence boost. Celtic were on the wrong end of some damaging defeats in the Champions League group stage this season, most notably the 7-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in November. However, the victory over Zenit has generated fresh hope amongst the Celtic faithful; we are well aware of the quality Zenit posses in their ranks, shown by the impressive performances put in by the St Petersburg side in the Europa League group stage this season. However, the winter break endured by the Russian side has played into Celtic’s hands, with the lack of match practice in Mancini’s team evident last week in Glasgow.
Celtic’s record in Russia in European competition will also provide encouragement for the Hoops’ support. The Bhoys have played in Russia on three occasions, recording two wins and a draw in the process. Celtic drew 1-1 with Spartak Moscow in the Russian capital in the 2007/08 Champions League playoff round, going on to beat Spartak on penalties in Glasgow. The Hoops have also recorded a 2-0 away victory over Dynamo Moscow in the 2009/10 Champions League qualifiers and a 3-2 victory over Spartak in the 2012/13 Champions League groups stages (our first ever away win in the UCL group stage). The Glaswegian side are yet to lose a competitive match in Russia and hopes are high amongst the Celtic support that we can keep that record intact on Thursday night.
Between the two matches against Zenit, The Scottish Premiership leaders had a league fixture to play against St Johnstone who currently sit in 9th in the Scottish Premiership. It was a frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers’ side as the six in a row champions couldn’t break down a determined and well-organised St Johnstone team. The match finished in a goalless draw, leaving Celtic nine points clear at the top of the table with eleven games to play.
Manager Brendan Rodgers made seven changes to the line-up that defeated Zenit in Glasgow on Thursday night. Goalkeeper Dorus de Vries remained in goal as Celtic’s first choice goalkeeper Craig Gordon is out with a long-term injury. The other three players to keep their places on Sunday afternoon were 19-year-old Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer, holding midfielder and former FC Krasnodar player Eboue Kouassi and Thursday night’s goal scoring hero Callum McGregor who captained the Hoops against St Johnstone in the absence of the suspended Scott Brown.
The fact the Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, whom completed an undefeated domestic treble in his first season at the club, decided to make seven changes ahead of the second leg in St Petersburg shows how seriously the Irishman is taking the Europa League. With Celtic’s domestic dominance in recent years, winning the last six league titles and the treble last season, it is vital to the club and the fans that we make that step up in Europe, which everyone at the club craves. Celtic is a club that prides itself on its history and for Brendan Rodgers, he sees the Europa League as fantastic opportunity to create more history at the football club.
Thanks to Aidan for providing the article and a special thanks to all the Celtic fans for the friendship they've displayed towards Zenit and our fans during the build-up to Thursday's game.
