FC Copenhagen suffer huge blow ahead of Celtic clash

Celtic have received a huge boost ahead of their round of 32 UEFA Europa League clash against Danish champions FC Copenhagen.

Celtic have been absolutely spectacular in the Europa League this season. After being drawn in a tough group with Lazio, Rennes and CFR Cluj, Hoops fans will have been satisfied to just go through to the knockout phase.

Instead they walked through the competition, getting 13 points and staying unbeaten until the last game of the group stage when they fielded a second-string side against CFR Cluj, having already secured the top spot in the group. And now in the last 32 of the competition they will be taking on Danish champions, FC Copenhagen.

FC Copenhagen currently sit on second spot in the Danish Superliga and came through a decent if not spectacular Europa League group consisting of Malmo, Dynamo Kyiv and Lugano. A couple of wins and three draws were enough to see them through to the knockout phase.

They have been dealt a huge blow though as they prepare to welcome Celtic to Telia Parke n in the first leg of their Round of 32 tie. According to Ekstra Bladet, the club have decided to sell striker Pieros Sotiriou to FC Astana. Sotiriou bid a ‘tearful farewell’ to his teammates earlier.

The 27-year-old has scored 13 goals to FC Copenhagen this season along with 3 assists and his absence will surely affect the side adversely. On top of that they will also missing the likes of Viktor Fischer, Jonas Wind, Nicolai Boilesen and Robert Mudrazija.

As reported by FourFourTwo, FC Copenhagen manager Stale Solbakken even admitted to his side’s struggles ahead of the game:

"“We have had a few struggles with short and long-term injuries and at this moment there are only four or five players who are definite starters in my line-up. Mr Lennon has more security in that way.“But in one game here, anything can happen as we have shown so many times. If one good thing can happen for us tomorrow and we carry a good result and performance into the second game then obviously anything can happen.“There is not that big a difference between the teams and I will be disappointed if we don’t have our moments tomorrow, create something, be good on the ball and dominate for periods.“But Celtic have been great in Europe, beating Lazio twice, beating Rennes from France so they are rock solid and that is credit to the manager of Celtic, coming after Brendan Rodgers and doing so well.”"

While Celtic were already the pick of the two sides heading into the match, this recent development should see them become overwhelming favourites. Anything near their best and the Hoops should be walking into the last 16 of the competition although you never know how things could turn out in Europe.