Preview: Celtic v Maribor
Monday, August 25, 2014
Article summary
Celtic FC hope the "unbelievable atmosphere" of their European return to their home stadium will spur them on against an NK Maribor side with fond memories of Glasgow.
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Article body
• NK Maribor came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in last Wednesday's first leg
• Ronny Deila says Celtic FC must "do things better than we did in Slovenia"
• Deila is looking forward to an "unbelievable atmosphere" from a full house at Celtic Park
• Maribor boss Ante Šimundža says the pressure is all on the home side
• Celtic have reached the group stage eight times since Maribor's only appearance in 1999
Possible lineups
Celtic: Gordon; Izaguirre, Denayer, Van Dijk, Lustig; Mulgrew, Johansen; Kayal, McGregor, Commons; Stokes.
• Out: Scott Brown (hamstring), James Forrest (hamstring)
Maribor: Handanovič; Šuler, Viler, Rajčevič, Stojanovič; Filipović, Derviševič, Vršič, Bohar; Tavares, Ibraimi.
Ronny Deila, Celtic manager
I feel ready and I know the team is ready as well, so we're looking forward to it. I hope there will be more [Champions League] games than just this one.
You have to prepare for two games. We had a good performance in the first leg and it's going to be a hard second leg. We have a new chance to go into the Champions League. We'll do everything we can to use that chance well. I'm looking forward to it in a full stadium with an unbelievable atmosphere, so we'll try to make use of that.
We have to learn from every game. We have to do things better than we did in Slovenia. There are things we want to do better tomorrow. It's important to start well to get the crowd behind you, to show you're offensive, but we have to be clever and play well tactically and have a good balance in the team.
Maribor played well tactically at home; they'll do the same here. They're very easy to read but very hard to stop because they use counterattacks − they're very organised and hard-working. It's very important to have the same focus in this game. We have to press together, be compact. We want to attack, to be offensive, but in a clever way. We want to be in the Champions League, that's why we're here, that's what we fight for.
Ante Šimundža, Maribor coach
We have a chance of going through to the group stage of Champions League, but tomorrow will be a very tough match. It would be a very big achievement to qualify. Celtic are a good team. We always want to win. If it's a draw and it's enough, we'll take it, but we're here to win.
We have to be 100% astute tactically in defence and offence. We'll see how it goes after 90 minutes. I hope for the best. They have more pressure on them because they are the favourites. Celtic are a very big team with an impressive history. They're used to playing such games but the pressure is on them.
In the first leg, the first half was Celtic's, the second half was us. We played well in Maribor but in Glasgow, we have to play a little bit better. Both teams want to play the perfect game and advance. Celtic play very well in front of their own fans. The 60,000 supporters give energy to the team, they give them strength. We have to be ready for that.
I wasn't in Glasgow [in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League play-offs] against Rangers but it was important because it was the first time we qualified in Europe. However, the Champions League is another step up so it's difficult to compare that to us succeeding here.
Weekend results
Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC 1-0 Celtic (O'Connell og 65)
Maribor 3-0 NK Zavrč (Bohar 8, Mendy 75, Zahović 75)
Form guide (all competitions)
Celtic: LDWWWL
Maribor: WDLWWD
Match fact
• How did Maribor fare when they took on Celtic's arch-rivals Rangers FC in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round and the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League play-offs? Find out in our extensive match background