Celtic returned to competitive European action last night in the 1st Qualifying round of the Champions League and it really doesn’t get much easier.
Icelandic part timers KR Reykjavík really weren’t up to much and right from the off Celtic had them back peddling and sitting deep in a vain attempt to keep their hosts out.
Mohamed Elyounoussi showed some of the form that made him a first pick last year up until his injury in December and he opened the scoring on 5 mins as he took the ball round the visitors keeper Beitir Olafsson after a fabulous long range pass from Christopher Jullien to finish with ease.
Elhamed replaced Jeremie Frimpong in the starting line-up and crossed in low on 16 mins to set-up a tap in for Odsonne Edouard only for opposition defender Arnor Adalsteinsson to beat him to it and bundle the ball into his own net.
Big Jullien then sealed the deal with a towering header at the front post from a corner to make it three just after the half hour mark.
It should have been four before half time but striker Kennie Chopart somehow kept Edouard’s drive out using his midsection and arms.
Minutes into the second half Elhamed’s cross landed on the head of Greg Taylor who was virtually standing on the goal line to make it four and with new striker Ajeti and Polish front man Klimela waiting to come on Odsonne Edouard showed some dazzling footwork in the box before finishing with a low drive for number five.
A fine goal from French Eddy, so good in fact that Premier Sports co-commentator John Hartson thinks it’s added another £5 million to his transfer value.
Elyounoussi slid home the sixth on 89 mins which was sweet as a nut for me personally as I’d backed us for 6-0 at 12/1 moments after the first goal went in. Shame I only put a fiver on it.
Anyway that was that. 6-0 and job done.
As I’ve stated before Reykjavík were pretty poor and were never seriously going to cause us any problem though they did actually have more of a go in the second half with one effort chopped off for being miles offside and there were a few other moments though by that stage the game was long concluded as a competitive contest.
The next round will see a far more formidable challenge as Hungarian champions Ferencvaros host Swedish title holders Djurgården.
They kick off at 6pm tonight so watch this space as we’ll play the winner next week on Tuesday evening also at home.
Just a caveat that I noticed from last night’s other qualifiers and that’s that Astana who we’ve come across twice in Champions League qualification in recent years were horsed 6-3 away at Dynamo Brest a team who I literally had to google. Turns out they are currently ninth in the Belarusian championship having won it last season.
It just goes to show that there are no gimmes in Europe especially when you consider that Astana actually beat Manchester United 2-1 at home in a Europa League group stage match last term.
Some clubs being restricted with the number of games they are allowed to play due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation is also playing a part as Astana hadn’t played a competitive game since the 15th of March.
Onto Saturday now and we return to domestic matters for an evening kickoff against Dundee Utd up at Tannadice.
Under new manager Micky Mellon last seasons Championship winners have got off to a fine start with away wins at Motherwell and Ross County last weekend to put seven points on the board out of a possible twelve so far.
It’ll be a tough encounter but what with us missing our last two league games due to you know who we really need to start putting points on the board.
I’ll preview that in greater depth on Friday.
Until then here’s the highlights from last nights trouncing.
....Always A Tim! 