Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will face Alashkert in their first Champions League qualifying clash next Tuesday in Armenia.
Celtic have been handed a well-timed boost ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Alashkert next Tuesday.
The Hoops need to navigate through four gruelling rounds of play-offs before they can be sure of their place in Europe’s premier club competition next season. And they face a lengthy trip to Armenia at the first hurdle with Alashkert lying in wait.
Celtic have made hard work of little-known opponents such as this in recent years (remember the 1-0 defeat to Lincoln Red Imps) and should be wary despite Alashkert’s minnow status.
Fortunately for Celtic, Brendan Rodgers’ side will be taking on a team that has just lost their influential centre-back.
28-year-old Croatian Divo Skvorc was the star man as Alashkert won the Armenian title in 2017/18 and they would have been relying on him to put a stop to Moussa Dembele, Leigh Griffiths and co next week.
So ironically, a man who Celtic offered a contract to in 2010 after a brief trial in Glasgow has just handed the Hoops a real advantage.
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