The Celtic Report – Early Season & European Football Part 2

By Dean Robertson

@DeanRobertson95

Check out the previous ‘Celtic Report’ here: https://thecelticblog.com/2014/10/blogs/the-celtic-report-pre-season-european-football-part-1

Celtic got their title defence underway with a 3-0 victory over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on the 13th of August. Anthony Stokes opened the scoring on the 55th minute before Nir Biton and Callum McGregor scored to round of an impressive performance.

Three days later, on Saturday the 16th of August, Celtic face Dundee United at Celtic Park. Celtic would continue their positive early form with a 6-1 win. New arrival, Jason Denayer netted first for the hoops before goals from Kris Commons, Stefan Johansen, Charlie Mulgrew and Jo Inge Berget put the game beyond the visitors. Dundee United would get a consolation goal when John Rankin found the net, however, the Bhoys would have the last laugh when Berget scored his second of the match to put the final nail in United’s coffin.

With six points out of six in the league, Celtic went into their final Champions League qualifier in high spirits. Celtic faced NK Maribor of Slovenia in the first leg at the Ljudski Vrt stadium. Both sides left the stadium with a share of the spoils as Celtic and Maribor played out a draw. This was a positive result for the hoops as it meant they were still in the tie with an away goal. Celtic left Slovenia knowing they had qualification in their sights, they just had to finish the job back home.

However, the hoops had to put European competition to the back of their minds as they returned to league duty just three days later as they faced Inverness CT away. The Bhoys would suffer their first European hangover of the season as an OG from Eoghan O’Connell gave the home side a one nil win.

The hoops returned to Glasgow for the visit of Maribor on the 26th of August. Celtic looked to bounce back from their loss to Inverness but they were unable to do so. Celtic conceded a late goal that resulted in the hoops being knocked out of the Champions League for the second time in one season.

On the last day of August the hoops faced Dundee at Dens Park as they looked to get back to winning ways. A very early goal from James McPake of Dundee shocked the hoops who struggled to regroup in the first half and went in at half time a goal down. The Bhoys equalised just before the hour mark when Leigh Griffiths found the net. An equalizer was all the hoops could manage as the game finished 1-1.

Two charity matches at the start of September allowed the first team some time off, everyone involved with Celtic hoped this time off would allow the players an opportunity to recover from their extremely demanding early season and it looked like the player had recovered when they returned to winning ways on the 13th of September. Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-1 in a hard fought contest. Jason Denayer opened the scoring before Aberdeen’s Goodwillie cancelled out Celtics lead. Kris Commons, however, wasn’t going to let another three points get away from the hoops as he scored a much needed goal that would ultimately be the winner.

Next up for the hoops was an away Europa League tie against FC Salzburg. Celtic and Salzburg played out a 2-2 draw, a resulted that suited both team on match day one.

On the 21st of September Celtic returned to SPFL Premiership action against Motherwell but another European hangover resulted in the hoops dropping points, However, the Bhoys ended the month of September on a high with wins over Hearts (In the League Cup) and St Mirren (In the League).

What did you make of Celtics early season?