Celtic face a very tricky first hurdle if they are to make it to the group stages of the Champions League as they take on Portuguese outfit Braga.
The Bhoys, managed in Europe for the first time by Neil Lennon, play their first leg away from home at Estadio AXA on Wednesday, with the former Northern Ireland midfielder still far from finished his summer’s wheeling and dealing.
Having completed a deal for striker Gary Hooper from Scunthorpe United on Tuesday, he must put the Buy And Sell down for the time being as he focuses on the game with the Champions League debutants, who finished ahead of Porto and miles clear of Sporting Lisbon to take second place in Portugal’s top flight last season.
Lennon says it is unlikely that Hooper will start, but his five fellow new Bhoys could all have a chance of playing, with Mexican World Cup defender Efrain Juarez having declared he is ready for Braga’s challenge despite having had less than a month off.
Defenders Cha Du Ri and Charlie Mulgrew, midfield gem Joe Ledley and striker Daryl Murphy, are all also in contention for their Hoops bows, while the best part of team news for Celtic sees winger Aiden McGeady travel after missing the recent pre-season games with a thigh injury.
The Bhoys eventually got past Dynamo Moscow at this stage a year ago despite a 1-0 home defeat but crashed out to Arsenal in the final qualifying round before the group stages and landed in the Europa League. They want much more this time around, but in Braga they are facing a side on the up.
Manager Domingos Paciencia has added to last season’s squad with striker Ladji Keita and Nigerian international left-back Uwa Echijile, as well Brazilian trio Eduardo and Leo Fortunato (both central defenders) and Leandro Salino (holding midfielder). Portugal’s World Cup goalkeeper Eduardo has left, however.
Their pre-season form has not been great but the neither has Celtic and this first leg should prove very important in deciding which of these sides makes the final qualifying stage.
Braga: (from) TBC
Celtic: (from) Zaluska, Juarez, Cha, Wilson, Mulgrew, Loovens, Hooiveld, McGeady, Brown, Ledley, Crosas, Maloney, Samaras, Fortune, Hooper, Murphy, McCourt, Rasmussen, Cervi.