Celtic managed to secure a point in their first Champions League game against Benfica at Celtic Park. They now face the difficult challenge of travelling away to Spartak Moscow looking for their first win of the tournament. Is this an impossible task?
Spartak Moscow is never an easy place to go and play football because it takes European players way outsider their normal routine. The temperature is generally a lot colder in Russia, despite the fact it’s the end of summer, and the kick-off is slightly earlier, which generally means players have to change their normal match day routine.
Celtic need to be on top form for this match because Spartak are yet to lose a home game in the league this season. They have only played three times but these matches have produced three wins with seven goals scored in the process and only three conceded. Add to this the fact that Spartak fans are generally more hostile to the away team than in other places and it doesn’t make for a pretty picture as far as Celtic are concerned.
Spartak are still going to be annoyed having let a point slip away at Barcelona. They led 2-1 at the Nou Camp in what would have been one of the greatest victories in living memory for the Russian club.
What this does show is that they are vulnerable in European games when they are put under pressure but how much of the possession stats Celtic are going to have is a different matter.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon has a big role to play. He has to get the players believing they deserve to be in the competition and more importantly that they can win in Moscow.
Celtic would have been deflated after the 0-0 home draw against Benfica because the occasion was setup perfectly for a Celtic win. Critics will say that Celtic will never have a better chance to win a Champions League match and they couldn’t get over the line with the support of 50,000 fans.
The best approach Celtic can take is to just go for it considering they have to play two matches against Barcelona in the near future. This means that tactically Lennon has to resist setting his team up negatively. He could pack the midfield and hope to steal a win late on but the record of Spartak at home this season suggests this is unlikely. It would be much better if he goes with two up front and tries to finish the match before Spartak have a chance to react.
The conditions of this match are going to be different from what Celtic players are used to, the pressure is going to be higher. Celtic have been inconsistent away from home in the league with a win, a draw, a defeat, six goals scored and five goals conceded.
Everything looks to be stacked against Celtic for this match and a draw would be a great result but they need more ambition and more guts if they are going to make the last 16.
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