Celtic and Bodo/Glimt on the way to the Champions League, Chery drifts away
Parallel to the meeting between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Sabah, three more matches were held this Wednesday as part of the Champions League qualifying playoff round. Celtic and Bodo/Glimt took a significant step toward the goal, and an Israeli Premier League ex-player provided an assist.
Parallel to the meeting between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Sabah, three more matches were held this Wednesday as part of the Champions League qualifying playoff round. Celtic and Bodo/Glimt took a significant step toward the goal, and an Israeli Premier League ex-player provided an assist.
Celtic - LASK 3:0
The Scottish champion has not forgotten the playoff elimination by Kairat last season, when it failed to score in 210 minutes of play before losing in a penalty shootout. Against the Austrian champion, Celtic fared much better. The Swede Benjamin Nygren found the top corner in the 26th minute, and 12 minutes later, Camilo Duran blasted an even more beautiful goal from the air. The Colombian signing, who cost 5.5 million euros and played with Qarabag in the Champions League last season, completed a brace in the 67th minute after an assist from Nygren, capturing the hearts of the crowd at Celtic Park. LASK, which won the championship after 61 years, will need a miracle in the return leg.
NEC Nijmegen - Bodo/Glimt 1:3
Chery wants another visit to the Champions League, but it seems that the Norwegian runner-up is the one who will return to Europe's main competition. NEC Nijmegen appeared nervous in its historic playoff debut and paid the price. Sondre Brunstad Fet scored the opener in the 25th minute, Andreas Helmersen was accurate from the penalty spot in the 44th minute, and Haitam Aleesami headed in the third in the 50th minute. Chery was substituted (82) and watched from the bench as the Dane Clement Bischoff narrowed the gap in the 85th minute.
Slovan Bratislava - Celje 1:1
The Slovakian champion was in the Champions League league phase two years ago, while its opponent from Slovenia had not even reached the third qualifying round until this season. Two years ago, Slovan won 5:0 at home, but this time it was much harder. Cristian Martinez, the midfield signing from Ironi Kiryat Shmona, provided a great assist to Roman Cerpak in the 15th minute, but the Kosovar Milot Avdyli equalized in the 42nd minute.
