On Thursday night Celtic claimed their most significant European scalp in years.
Unfortunately, I was delayed in writing this due to a family member suffering an acute illness but thankfully they are on the mend and I’m putting this up just before going to visit them.
Coppa Italia holders SS Lazio came to town and surprisingly rested their star striker on the bench.
In the first half Celtic dominated as in traditional Italian style, the visitors sat in and looked to hit on the break.
We dominated possession and Ryan Christie smacked the post from distance however mot of our offence was blocked and Edouard, Forrest and Elyounoussi found themselves stifled in the final third but des[ite that all of the momentum was still with Celtic.
With five minutes left before half time though we got caught out as Boli Bolingoli, who was having a fine game, had his offensive positioning exposed by Joaquin Correra advancing up the other end and releasing Manuel Lazzari whose incredible darting run was matched by a stunning finish past Fraser Forster.
The body blow continued to discombobulate Celtic throughout the opening 20 mins of the second half as we suddenly looked bereft of belief and energy and the game got bogged down in much of a nothingness.
On 65 mins Correra should have made it two for Lazio as he bore down on goal but could only find the post.
And that moment seemed to be the game-changer as less than two minutes later Ryan Christie equalised with a sweet finish after a cutback from Odsonne Edouard.
From then on the game was anyone’s as both teams went for it and Fraser Forster had to produce some good saves before the big moment came on 89 mins when Celtic did something incredible and scored from a corner.
Christie’s execution was met by the towering Christopher Jullien who rose like a salmon and finished beautifully with a header into the far corner that gave Lazio keeper Thomas Strakosha no chance.
But it wasn’t over as a perfectly executed volley by Danilo Cataldi in the fifth minute of injury time was incredibly saved by Fraser Forster in what proved to be the last moment of the game.
This win means seven points from nine and top of the group with Cluj second on six points after a 1-0 win in Rennes where the French side had their keeper sent off in the opening minutes of the game and each side had a man sent off thereafter.
We next go to Rome to play Lazio in what will be a partially closed Stadio Olimpico in under a fortnight and sincere best wishes to any Celtic supporters travelling as safe to say they are in for a hot reception.
Next up we go to fourth-placed Aberdeen on Sunday for a 12.15 kick off.
As is always the case we need to win being locked at the top on 22 points with Rangers who are at home later on in the day with Motherwell.
It’s been a poor season so far for the Dons who are about to open the doors on a new multi-million-pound training facility at Kingsford.
Their standard Europa League third qualifying round elimination was followed up by a League Cup quarter-final defeat against Hearts.
In the league, they have won four, drawn three and lost two which has included an uncharacteristic 5-0 thumping at Ibrox against Rangers all of which has led to criticism of manager Derek McInnes something he has rarely experienced in an otherwise successful six-year reign.
However, in their last game, they produced easily their best performance of the season with a 3-0 win away at Motherwell that should have been by much more.
Their star man is, of course, is towering striker Sam Cosgrove who hit 21 goals last season and has scored an incredible 15 in 16 games already so far this term.
Aged 22 and standing 6’3 Cosgrove’s development in the last year has been incredible and he really is a player who at Scottish Premiership level at least has it all and looks destined for a mega-money move in the not too distant future.
Shackle him and we should be okay and our record at Pittodrie is pretty imperious having won our last six straight there and 3-0 last time which was the win that secured the title back in early May.
I predict a tough game after our exploits on Thursday night and we need to make changes but I predict a 2-1 win.
Hey, it worked for Lazio.
....Always A Tim! 