Champions League
2012-08-21 - Helsingborgs vs Celtic
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Tuesday 21 August 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Helsingborgs
Helsingborgs are just two games away from reaching the Group Stage of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years, but they appreciate they are the underdogs in this tie. However, they are still confident they can spring the surprise as long as they can earn a positive result from this first leg, a positive result being keeping a clean sheet.
They may be the current Champions of Sweden, but this season has been a disappointment as they sit in 5th place after 19 games and find themselves 10 points behind Elfsborg. Helsingborgs do have a 5-4-1 record at home, scoring 21 goals and conceding 11.
The team have already come through two rounds in the Champions League this season having beaten TNS and Slask Wroclaw, but Celtic do represent a step up in competition. Helsingborgs may have won their 2 home games in the Champions League this season, but they were thumped 1-3 by Standard Liege in the Europa League qualifiers last season.
Age Hariede has a number of injuries in the squad to contend with ahead of this game. Mattias Lindstrom is out, while Par Hansson, Loret Sadiku, Eric Wahlstedt, Eric Edman and Eriend Hanstveit are all doubtful.
Celtic
I don't think I am being disrespectful by saying that Celtic are more than likely going to win the Scottish Premier League at a cantor this season and that has put added pressure on Neil Lennon to qualify for the Group Stages of the Champions League. With Rangers demoted to the Third Division, the Premier League is more than in Celtic's hands and so all the focus is on this double legged qualifier.
Celtic have picked up 4 points from their opening 2 games in Scotland, but they have looked a little unfocused on the job at hand and that could be down to a lack of a real challenger in that Division. They have come through one tough encounter in the Champions League already this season as they beat HJK Helsinki in both legs in the previous round.
The team have actually not made it to the Group Stages of the Champions League since 2008 having fallen in the final Play Off round in 2009 and 2010. Celtic have actually won 2 of their last 4 away games in the Champions League, although they had lost 7 in a row before that and had scored just one goal.
Scott Brown, Gary Hooper, James Forrest and Pat McCourt all missed the draw with Ross County at the weekend, but all are in line to start in this one. There are still some injury issues in the squad with the likes of Anthony Stokes and Daryl Murphy missing out.
Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between the sides.
Prediction
Both sides have a few injury issues in their respective squads and both have also been in a little bit of poor form in their respective domestic Leagues.
However, I think Celtic have been completely and utterly focused on winning their way through to the Group Stages of the Champions League knowing they can afford to drop a couple of points here and there in the Scottish Premier League with their own squad being head and shoulders above any other in the League.
To that end, it is no surprise that they are expected to bring in a few players that missed the game at the weekend and I do expect this will lead to a much more positive performance.
Helsingborgs are a decent home side, but it will be interesting to see how they approach this game as all the talk is about making sure they don't concede in this home leg. If they allow Celtic to get on the front foot, they may just concede the momentum and let the Scottish club win their 3rd away game in their last 5 Champions League contests.
With the Swedish club perhaps being a little nervous as they look to keep a clean sheet, I think the Celtic team may put one foot into the Group Stages by earning a win here, especially with their whole early season catered to getting through this Play Off round.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Helsingborgs 1-2 Celtic
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Celtic to win @ 2.80
