CELTIC are underdogs going into this game, everybody knows that. Gone are the days when teams would come and fear their visit to Celtic Park. It’s as if players are less scared of the atmosphere and embracing it as an experience.
We must bring a fear factor back to Celtic Park if Celtic are to make any strides in Europe over the next few years and it starts on Thursday against Zenit!
But the odds and the stats aren’t in Celtic’s favour, Brendan Rodgers Liverpool stars fell to Zenit in this competition back in 2013.
The stats may be doom and gloom but you won’t find many Celtic fans willing to write the team off yet!
• Celtic haven’t won any of their last 11 European home matches outside the qualifying phase, losing eight including the last five. They have also gone five successive UEFA Europa League home games without a win (D2 L3).
• Zenit are undefeated in seven UEFA outings (W6 D1), although they have not kept a clean sheet in their last five, conceding one goal in each of those encounters.
• Brendan Rodgers was on the losing side when his Liverpool team went out to Zenit in the 2012/13 round of 32.
The bookies are expecting a Zenit win, let’s give them hell and kickstart our European aspirations!
Sorry to say i expect a defeat on Thursday, and by a few goals. We are a shadow of the team we looked like becoming, I hope I am wrong but I fear for us