Football: Celtic nerve themselves for haunting experience
Times, The (London, England)
October 2, 1985
Author: STUART JONES, Football Correspondent
October 2, 1985
Author: STUART JONES, Football Correspondent
Celtic, accustomed to taking on continental opponents to the accompaniment of their vociferous Glaswegian choir, may be unnerved initially at least by the lack of noise. Yet they held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Cup Winners' Cup tie and will have gained further comfort over the weekend.
In winning 2-0 at Dundee, Celtic maintained their unbeaten record and replaced their local rivals, Rangers, on the Scottish throne. The following day the domestic form of Atletico, who missed perhaps a crucial penalty a fortnight ago, fell from disappointing to poor. They lost 4-1 at home on Sunday to Valladolid.
In winning 2-0 at Dundee, Celtic maintained their unbeaten record and replaced their local rivals, Rangers, on the Scottish throne. The following day the domestic form of Atletico, who missed perhaps a crucial penalty a fortnight ago, fell from disappointing to poor. They lost 4-1 at home on Sunday to Valladolid.
Football: Celtic with an empty feeling
Times, The (London, England)
October 3, 1985
Author: HUGH TAYLOR
October 3, 1985
Author: HUGH TAYLOR
Silence was leaden for Celtic at an empty Parkhead yesterday as they were comprehensively defeated by Altetico Madrid in the second leg of their European Cup Winners' Cup first round tie.
Trouble in their European matches last season meant Celtic had to play their home leg behind closed doors, and David Hay, their manager, said: 'The players were badly affected by the flat atmosphere. It shows us how much out supporters mean to the club. We just did not play at all.'
Parkhead presented a bizarre scene, with the match played in a errie quiet, but even more curious was the approach of the side who had been hailed as Scotland's new hopes for Europe. Perhaps this praise had gone to the heads of the players.
Instead of turning on the fierce, flowing raids which have been their trademark for so long, Celtic attempted to play a continental-type game.
Atletico could not believe their luck. They were a yard faster and brimming with confidence which did not wane even after two fine opportunities had been spurned in the first half hour of the game.
Soom after MacLeod missed a race chance for the home side, shooting over the bar from no more than a yard, Atletico darted upfield with a raid reminiscent of the Celtic team which became Britain's first European Cup winners and scored a splendid goal through Setien.
The final blow came in the 72nd minute when Atletico went 2-0 ahead through a superb goal by Quique, who collected the ball near the centre spot, darted past the substitute, McAdam, and ran half the length of the pitch before driving a fierce left foot shot past the helpless Bonner.
A minute last Aitken, who had been pushed forward into midfield in place of the disappointing McStay, snatched a goal for Celtic from a cross by McClair but by that stage it was too late.
It is debatable whether the crowd would have made all that difference. Celtic may be new favourites to win Scotland's league championship, but on the evidence of this display they have few players of quality to compare with the Europeans and once again failed miserably to take advantage of a splendid result away from home.
CELTIC: P Bonner, D McGrain, (Sub: McInally), T Burns, R Aitken, P McGugan, P Grant, D Provan, P McStay (sub: T McAdam), M Johnston, M Macleod, B McClair.
ATLETICO MADRID: U Fillol, G Tomas, S Clemente, J Arteche, M Ruiz, E Setien, J Cabrera, E Quique, J DaSilva, J Landaburu (sub: J Rubio) R Marina (sub: J Prieto).
Referee: P Casarin (Italy).
Trouble in their European matches last season meant Celtic had to play their home leg behind closed doors, and David Hay, their manager, said: 'The players were badly affected by the flat atmosphere. It shows us how much out supporters mean to the club. We just did not play at all.'
Parkhead presented a bizarre scene, with the match played in a errie quiet, but even more curious was the approach of the side who had been hailed as Scotland's new hopes for Europe. Perhaps this praise had gone to the heads of the players.
Instead of turning on the fierce, flowing raids which have been their trademark for so long, Celtic attempted to play a continental-type game.
Atletico could not believe their luck. They were a yard faster and brimming with confidence which did not wane even after two fine opportunities had been spurned in the first half hour of the game.
Soom after MacLeod missed a race chance for the home side, shooting over the bar from no more than a yard, Atletico darted upfield with a raid reminiscent of the Celtic team which became Britain's first European Cup winners and scored a splendid goal through Setien.
The final blow came in the 72nd minute when Atletico went 2-0 ahead through a superb goal by Quique, who collected the ball near the centre spot, darted past the substitute, McAdam, and ran half the length of the pitch before driving a fierce left foot shot past the helpless Bonner.
A minute last Aitken, who had been pushed forward into midfield in place of the disappointing McStay, snatched a goal for Celtic from a cross by McClair but by that stage it was too late.
It is debatable whether the crowd would have made all that difference. Celtic may be new favourites to win Scotland's league championship, but on the evidence of this display they have few players of quality to compare with the Europeans and once again failed miserably to take advantage of a splendid result away from home.
CELTIC: P Bonner, D McGrain, (Sub: McInally), T Burns, R Aitken, P McGugan, P Grant, D Provan, P McStay (sub: T McAdam), M Johnston, M Macleod, B McClair.
ATLETICO MADRID: U Fillol, G Tomas, S Clemente, J Arteche, M Ruiz, E Setien, J Cabrera, E Quique, J DaSilva, J Landaburu (sub: J Rubio) R Marina (sub: J Prieto).
Referee: P Casarin (Italy).
