8/14: First Leg, Celtic vs. Basle [R]

[BrianCappellieri]

SoccerAge Preview (http://www.soccerage.com/en/13/g4948.html)
SoccerAge Prediction (http://www.soccerage.com/en/13/g4945.html)

For other team news check out the Celtic thread.

[BrianCappellieri]

CELTIC V BASLE - TEAM NEWS

Celtic winger Didier Agathe is battling to be fit for Wednesday's Champions League final qualifying first leg tie with FC Basle...
Sky Sports (http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1860-1060736,00.html)

[Worm Burner]

What a start! 1-1 in the 3rd minute.

[BrianCappellieri]

Follow the Match Live (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/2193022.stm)

This is a disaster! Giving up an away goal already!

[BrianCappellieri]

Gimenez stuns the crowd with a goal in the 2nd minute.

Larsson gets a penalty in the 3rd minute.

11'
Celtic 1-1 Basle

[BrianCappellieri]

HT Celtic 1-1 Basle

[BrianCappellieri]

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL!!!

Sutton in the 52nd!

[liverbird]

With hope in our hearts -- walk on!

[KCFutbol]

Missed a PK!

[BrianCappellieri]

Larsson misses a PK!

Audio (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/2193022.stm)

[KCFutbol]

Goal Sylla! Celtic 3 - FC Basel 1

[Worm Burner]

Another goal!!!!! 3-1

[BrianCappellieri]

GOAL!
Sylla makes it 3.

It'll be a tough match in Basle next week.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

We played badly, basel played well, if we can play well in the away leg it should be a lot more comfortable.
Momo's goal was spectacular.

[BrianCappellieri]

Well I guess that's a bit comforting that we played poorly but still won 3-1. From all of the pre-match quotes it seemed no one was taking Basle lightly so I don't know why we came out so flat.

I wonder if Sky will show CL highlights. Hopefully I can see the goals. :)

[BrianCappellieri]

Celtic battle to beat Basel
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38197000/jpg/_38197239_petrov_pen300.jpg
Celtic gave themselves an excellent chance of progressing to the group stages of the Champions League with a hard-fought victory over Basel...
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/2191130.stm)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38197000/jpg/_38197241_larssonceleb150.jpg

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Originally posted by BrianCappellieri
Well I guess that's a bit comforting that we played poorly but still won 3-1. From all of the pre-match quotes it seemed no one was taking Basle lightly so I don't know why we came out so flat.

I wonder if Sky will show CL highlights. Hopefully I can see the goals. :)

Portugal in their pre-us interviews said they werent taking them lightly and we know what happened there, maybe the fact they have had 7 league games to our 2 led to them looking a lot sharper too.

[liverbird]

Sure beats the ManUre result!

[SwissGCZ]

Saw the game. Celtic was extremely lucky with the result. There is no way the 3-1 scoreline accurately resembles what happened on the pitch. Basle could have been up 3-1 by the time Celtic scored the second goal. After that goal and the second penalty call (a very questionable one in my opinion), it got tough for Basle and they let in the third one in the closing minutes. I think a tie would have been a fair result, since Basle outplayed Celtic severely in the first half and showed better technique and passing abilities. But in the end (as often with Swiss teams), the effort is not reflected in the reward.

Celtic needs to focus however, they are not through yet. The St. Jakob Park (30,000) sold out in one day, and FC Basle will have a tremendous home advantage.

http://www.austria.switzerland-euro2008.com/images/articles/basel_top.jpg
http://www.austria.switzerland-euro2008.com/images/articles/basel_bottom.jpg

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Agreed the return leg should be an absoloute belter, Dunno if my nerves will be able to take it though! :D