Celtic v Helsinki Champs League Qualifier‏

Celtic v Helsinki

Celtic

Injuries - None (I dont think!)
Doubts - Commons, Stokes

Availble Squad - Forster, Matthews, Lustig, Rogne, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Brown, Commons, Kayal, Ledley, Wanyama, Forrest, Stokes, Hooper, McCourt, McGeouch, Twardzik, Samaras, Zaluska, Bangura

Probable XI - Foster, Matthews, Wanyama, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Ledley, Forrest, Brown, Commons, Samaras, Hooper (4-4-2)


Helsinki

Probable XI - Wallen, Kansikas, Hakanpaa, Linstrom, Sorsa, Savage, Vayrynen, Schuller, Mannstrom, Makela, Pohjanpalo (4-4-2)



Prediction : Celtic 2-0 Helsinki

First off let me start by saying that this is without doubt Neil Lennon's most important game probably since he took the helm. With the Scottish League looking likely to be canter for the Hoops this season it really is Europe where the fans and the board will be looking for success, and lets not forget he has failed miserably in his last 2 attempts.

So, I imagine Lennon was not overly happy about drawing Helsinki, a team that is 19 matches into their season and currently sitting in 2nd spot, not to mention their convincing win 9-1 on aggregate in the last round. However, the visitors have actually not been quite so impressive in their recent form and have actually only won 3 in their last 10 league games. I'm expecting them to lineup in their tried and tested 4-4-2 formation similar to Celtic. This is a system where they use Savage and Mannstrom out wide to try and inject some pace down the wings. Upfront they have a bit of a young star in the making I think in Pohjanpalo who has bagged 13 goals already this season. Jambos will be fimiliar with their other front man, Juho Makela, who spent time in the SPL at Tynecastle and was always a player that caught the eye when he came off the bench. He too has been firing in goals this season with 10 to his name. He should be able to offer young Pohjanpalo a valuable insight to the Scottish game.

Celtic's biggest problem in the last couple of years is trying to get the team ready for these early European qualifying games that seem to come always before the cobwebs have been blown away. Once again Lennon must have been pretty disturbed by his teams performances in the 2 opening preseason friendlies, they were properly played off the park against Ajax losing 4-0 ( I can't stress how badly they were out classed in this game) and followed it up with a 1-0 defeat to Norwich. They did though actually look quite good against a strong albiet lazy looking Inter Milan side on Saturday only to miss out on a good victory to a last second Inter equaliser with the game ending 1-1.


In conclusion, this is a game that Celtic can simply not afford to mess up and I really don't think they will. I can only see them taking a decent advantage to Finland and obviously they will like that to be with the benefit of a clean sheet. Key to the game will be Hooper's finishing and if they can get the service to him he will convert in my book.

I like the look of Celtic -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.68 (betfair) and Gary Hooper Anytime Scorer but the odds are rubbish @2.0 (ladbrokes) so will leave that.