The Champions League qualifiers thread

Hmmm if I buy a Cliftonville season ticket is the Champs League game included?

 

ANTHONY Stokes was delighted to draw Cliftonville in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round and he believes that both sets of supporters will be of the same mindset.

The Belfast outfit are the first hurdle Neil Lennon´s men will have to overcome in their bid to reach the group stages of the tournament once again.

And while the Irishman expects a severe test from the Reds on the park, he´s expecting fans of both clubs to create a carnival atmosphere in the stands.

"It´s a great draw for both clubs," he told the official Celtic website. "Cliftonville had an exceptional season and it will be a tough game and we will have to be at our best, but we´re going to have a good pre-season and will be ready.

"Both atmospheres will be electric. I´m sure they will have a good crowd over here for the game as I know there is a decent relationship between the two clubs.

"I know a lot of their fans would be Celtic fans as well or would look for us to do well, though maybe not in these two games. But it´s all about on the night and we will fancy our chances at home. We will give it our all, and hopefully get a good result to take over there."

Naturally, the Irishman takes a keen interest in football in his homeland and he has been impressed by Cliftonville´s achievements in the past 12 months as they sealed the championship by an emphatic margin and narrowly missed out on a domestic treble. And he has identified striker Liam Boyce, who struck 36 goals last term, as one of their main threats.

"Boyce has been the main figure and there has been a lot of talk about him possibly getting a move away," said Stokes. "He´s going to be a dangerman as he had an outstanding season. I watched a good few of their games and they try and play decent football.

"I did watch a lot of them last year as they were doing so well, winning the league and cup, and getting so close to doing the treble as well.

"It was an incredible season for them and we will show them every respect, but we did quite well too last year so we will be confident going into the game."

There are just over three weeks until the first leg in Paradise but Stokes insists Celtic will be ready to tackle the Reds.

"We will be going into the game to win, and the most important thing is to put in the hard work now and hopefully it will pay off come the match," said the Hoops hitman.

"It´s not too far to travel which is always nice. The atmosphere is going to be great there. It would have been a difficult game regardless of who we got in the draw but it´s one we are looking forward to."

The home leg of this vital European tie is included as part of the season ticket package for 2013/14. For more details on how you can be at Paradise and cheer on the Bhoys, click HERE

 

I was down west at the weekend. Drove back via Sligo and was absolutely convinced we'd get them. This is maybe better. I've a mate fae Belfast working on tickets but I'm not hopeful.

 

For that reason I'll not be too upset to miss out. There are folk who'd deserve to go a lot more than me. Being around and about in Belfast would be just as much craic anyway.