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Celtic FC take on CFR Cluj in Champions League eliminator

By Mick Kane

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 02: Ryan Christie of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Betfred Cup Final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on December 2, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 02: Ryan Christie of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Betfred Cup Final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on December 2, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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Celtic FC face CFR Cluj in the Third Qualifying Round for the chance to reach the Champions League play-off against Slavia Prague.

Romanian champions CFR Cluj travel to Glasgow with the match finely poised to create suspense and a spectacle. Both sides sit at one goal a piece. James Forrest rescued a draw when he scored an invaluable away goal for Celtic FC during last week’s match.

Cluj beat Hermannstadt 3-0 at the weekend and stand in captain, Adrian Paun, feels they have it all in order to get a victorious result at Celtic Park.

Speaking to the Daily Record,Paun said:

“We need a miracle to qualify.

“The morale in the squad is excellent at the moment and we are playing some nice football, but to go through in Glasgow, it’s a miracle we need.”

It seems Cluj are keen to downplay any chance they have in an effort to heap pressure on Celtic, manager Dan Petrescu had said Celtic are like Barcelona, and now according to Paun they need a miracle to qualify in a tie that seems fairly balanced to the common eye.

Cluj were well worthy of a point last week if not more and they should take heart from the fact that Celtic conceded easily against them last week as well as two goals on Saturday.

That being said, Celtic should be the favourites, with an away goal in the bank, and the firepower from middle to front, we should see Celtic score a couple of goals.

Celtic Park can be an intimidating arena for even the most experienced European teams and should be an advantage over Cluj.

The problem at the moment is there has not been a settled defensive unit, suspension has meant Jullien and Simunovic have missed out, Bitton has filled in already a couple of times this season, while Bolingoli’s performances this early in his Celtic career have been indifferent to say the least.

Hatem Abd Elmahed missed out in the weekend 5-2 win over Motherwell, hopefully as a precaution, he has looked good so far in the couple of occasions he has played, this would allow Kristoffer Ajer to move back into centre defence.

Next. Yannick Bolassie linked with Celtic move. dark

The match will be live on Celtic TV. With a likely to be close to capacity crowd, a great European night atmosphere should propel Celtic into the play-off against Slavia Prague.

Prediction Celtic 4-0 CFR Cluj.

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