Celtic’s Champions League hopes are firmly within the steadiness after they had been held to a goalless draw by Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan in Glasgow within the first leg of their play-off tie on Wednesday, whereas Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce performed out a goalless draw with Benfica.
The Scottish champions pushed Bayern Munich shut within the knockout section play-offs final season after ending twenty first out of 36 groups within the league stage.
However Brendan Rodgers’s group couldn’t break down the champions of Kazakhstan, who’ve already come via three qualifying rounds to get to this stage and are eyeing a primary ever look within the competitors correct.
James Forrest was denied by a fantastic save from Kairat goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy proper firstly of the second half from certainly one of few clear probabilities that fell Celtic’s manner at Parkhead.
On the different finish, Brazilian Edmilson noticed a chip from contained in the centre circle for Kairat land on the roof of the online following a mistake by Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Daizen Maeda then discovered himself in behind the Kairat defence late on however may solely shoot straight at substitute goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov.
Celtic due to this fact have all of it to do once they make the daunting journey east subsequent week to Almaty, not removed from Kazakhstan’s border with China.
“We’re dissatisfied with the consequence and first-half efficiency. We didn’t begin with the intent and mentality we needed to. We had been fairly passive,” mentioned Rodgers, whose group had been booed off at full-time.
“There’s little question we will go there and win. In fact, you need to take a bonus with you, (however) it’s nonetheless very a lot within the steadiness.”
Fenerbahce and Benfica performed out a 0-0 draw within the first leg of their tie in Istanbul.
The Portuguese giants, who misplaced within the final 16 final season to Barcelona, held on within the stress cooker ambiance in Turkey regardless of having midfielder Florentino despatched off within the second half.
Benfica due to this fact have the slight edge going into the return in Lisbon, however Fenerbahce are aiming to succeed in the Champions League correct for the primary time since 2008/09.
Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt look sure to succeed in the league section of Europe’s elite membership competitors for the primary time after a surprising 5-0 dwelling win over Austria’s Sturm Graz.
Kasper Hogh, Odin Bjortuft and Ulrik Saltnes all scored within the first 25 minutes for final season’s Europa League semi-finalists.
Hakon Evjen made it 4 early within the second half and a William Boving personal aim accomplished the rout.
Swiss champions Basel drew 1-1 at dwelling to FC Copenhagen in heavy rain at St Jakob-Park.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s early penalty put Basel in entrance, however Gabriel Pereira equalised for the Danish facet in first-half stoppage time.
Basel had substitute Jonas Adjetey despatched off late on however held out for a draw as an Andreas Cornelius aim for Copenhagen was dominated out for a marginal offside.
as/mw