Two old foes will meet again in Europe – and it will be great!
With the spotlight firmly fixed on the Champions League this week, there was one draw that slipped under the radar somewhat, that could prove to be the ultimate tie of the round in the second tier of European club competition.
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In 1967 these two sides met in Lisbon to slug it out for the European Cup in what would go on to be Celtic’s first triumph away from their domestic league. Beating their Italian counterparts in a bad tempered affair and established themselves as a major force on the football landscape.
Things are a lot different for both sides now. Their power has waned, their money evaporated and their influence both at home and away is just a shell of what it used to be.
But that is what will make this encounter so thrilling. Celtic, by their own account (and everyone else’s) have been poor this term. Under Ronny Deila they have hit a brick wall and have struggled to scale it, leaving them to flounder in the face of such weak opposition back in Scotland.
Inter on the other hand, may be slightly better off in terms of their personnel, but they’ve fallen on hard times, too, and their trophy cabinet has been looking rather barren in recent seasons.
This game could go two ways, though. Either Inter, with their superior roster filled with the likes of Dani Osvaldo, Mauro Icardi and Hernanes will overrun the poor Bhoys to further compound their misery, or Celtic will stand up and hit back in equal measure.
John Guidetti will be looking to cause problems – and has the ability to – whilst the highly-rated Virgin Van Dijk will be sternly tested, and in Scott Brown the Celtic fans already know what they can expect. So though the difference is wide, Celtic are no pushovers.
Deila has already stated earlier this season that he has been forced to sacrifice a philosophy in order for results, but this will be his chance to correct that and give a real account of what the club are all about. Celtic should be living for nights like this with Rangers still out of the picture, and if he plays his cards right a big upset could be the reward.
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