Celtic v Astra background
Monday, October 6, 2014
Article summary
Celtic FC are unbeaten after two UEFA Europa League Group D games and will aim to keep that run going as winless FC Astra Giurgiu come to Glasgow.
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Article body
Celtic FC rode their luck to beat GNK Dinamo Zagreb in their last UEFA Europa League Group D game and will hope to have an easier ride against winless FC Astra Giurgiu.
Form guide
• Celtic fans with long memories will remember the Hoops' only previous European meeting with Romanian opponents; Charlie Nicholas scored twice as they beat FC Timişoara 2-1 at home in the 1980/81 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but a 1-0 loss in Romania – courtesy of a Dan Păltinişanu strike – spelled an away-goals defeat for Billy McNeill's side.
• Astra have lost their last three European games but have a decent record in their seven continental away fixtures (W5 D0 L2). Their 5-1 matchday one loss at Dinamo Zagreb was their worst European result to date.
Trivia and links
• This will be Celtic's 299th UEFA club competition game (the first 298 ended: W141 D51 L106); the return meeting in Romania will be their 300th.
• Romanian sides are unbeaten in their last four games in Scotland (W3 D1).
The coaches
• Celtic coach Ronny Deila took charge of the Hoops in June 2014 following a successful spell at Strømsgodset IF in his native Norway. The former Odd Grenland and Viking FK defender led the Drammen club to the 2010 Norwegian Cup title and, in 2013, their first league crown since 1970.
• Astra coach Daniel Isăilă was dismissed during the international break with his side having won just one of their previous seven games in all competitions.
• Former Soviet Union forward Oleh Protasov is Astra's new coach, having returned to Romania nine years after a five-month spell as FC Steaua Bucureşti coach. The one-time FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, FC Dynamo Kyiv and Olympiacos FC player has coached in Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus as well as in his native Ukraine.
