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Glasgow Celtic – get dumped out of the Champions League qualifiers by a side nobody can spell the name of, including myself so I shan’t be trying, ship six to West Ham in pre-season, lose your Scottish Premiership opener to Hearts – and then score ten in your next two. You can say absolutely anything you like about Celtic, but they’re absolute blockbuster to say the very least and that much simply can’t be denied.
Perhaps it’s a case of a bedding-in process, where a manager’s ideals haven’t quite landed – it’s taking time; he’s gaining respect, his ideas are landing and slowly it’s beginning to take shape. Either that or playing a made-up-sounding Czech side and Dundee being absolute s***e helps your optics.
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But it’s definitely one of those two. Still, you can only beat what’s in front of you, eh? Normally I’d be hesitant to back anyone winning by two goals in a second leg when their season is just beginning but the scheduling Gods have handed Celtic a Scottish League Cup tie on Sunday rather than a league game.
All aboard the Postecoglou train – the wheels haven’t come off yet! Here’s a Bet Builder for you to sink your teeth into.
WHAT: Europa League Qualifying Third Round, second leg
WHEN: Thursday 12th August 2021 – 7:45pm
HOW TO WATCH: Celtic TV (live stream only)
The below picks in a Paddy Power Bet Builder will give you odds of around 26/1. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Handicap Betting: Jablonec (+1)
Do not think this is because I fancy Celtic to rest players because of the seismic importance of the first hurdle in the Scottish League Cup. No, it’s merely just a complacency thing. In Europe, you play the situation and Jablonec will know they don’t need to worry about away goals – so won’t ever actually be fully out of this tie in their minds.
That’s the psychological reset that comes with European football these days, and it’s taking some getting used to. It should create more late goals, so I’ll always advise backing action and Jablonec (+1).
Half-Time: Celtic
And a big part of that reason is that the game will be put to bed fine and early. At least in Celtic’s minds anyway.
Realistically, if you go in a goal to the good after netting four in the Czech Republic, you’re not concerned about finding more goals – you’ve started thinking about that post-game shower and what episode of Gogglebox you’re sticking on when you get home. Half-time: Celtic is your next leg.
Over 2.5 Goals
I hummed and hawed with this one, but ultimately my belief that Jablonec will score multiple times can’t be shaken – particularly after they grabbed two in their last two European games. Plus, does a clean sheet against Dundee give false hope that you can be defensively sound?
With games of little importance to follow, it’s hard to maintain that focus. Well, it is when your defensive line has more holes than Phil Taylor’s practice board. I think we’ll see Over 2.5 Goals here.
Jablonec to Win the Second Half
They have goals in them, you know. They impressed me with their efficiency and their movement off the ball is more sophisticated than we might have anticipated. For that reason, and the fact Celtic won’t have to consider losing the game outright, this feels like a value play.
Bet Builder for Celtic v Jablonec
Jablonec (+1)
Half-Time: Celtic
Over 2.5 Goals
Jablonec to Win the Second Half
* A Bet Builder on these four best bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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