Ange Postecoglou has endured a rough ride since taking charge of Celtic but Thursday’s Europa League tie at Jablonec offers up a great opportunity to secure his maiden victory.
The long road to the Europa League group stage is well underway and we head into the third qualifying round on Thursday.
There are seven first-leg ties spread across the evening, with Celtic and St Johnstone both flying the flag for Scotland and hoping to pick up positive results on the road.
Celtic Can’t Afford Slip Up
The Bhoys lost their way in 2020-21, finishing second and ending the term without a single piece of silverware for the first time since 2009-10.
Neil Lennon left his post in February and John Kennedy was placed in caretaker charge through until the end of the term.
Former Australia manager Ange Postecoglou was appointed over the summer but he has struggled to get the club back on a positive path.
Celtic are yet to win in three competitive outings, losing twice, and crashed out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round after a 3-2 aggregate loss to Danish outfit Midtjylland.
They were beaten 2-1 in their opening Premiership match of 2021-22, going down to Hearts on Saturday, and morale is low.
However, they have the opportunity to bounce back on Thursday when they head to the Czech Republic to face Jablonec.
Postecoglou’s men are priced at 11/10 to pick up a first leg victory, with Jablonec available at 13/5 and the draw is 11/5.
Both teams to score, which can be backed at 10/11, also looks like an attractive prospect when considering that has landed in each of Celtic’s three games this campaign.
Tough Turkey Trip for Saints
St Johnstone enjoyed a fine 2020-21, winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup as they went on to finish fifth in the Premiership.
They have been rewarded with a route in the Europa League, however, their journey could be short lived after drawing Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Saints head to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Thursday as the 7/1 underdogs and the hosts are priced at 5/12.
Callum Davidson’s men may take some optimism from Gala’s meek performance in Champions League qualifying when they went down 7-2 against PSV over two legs.
But the Scottish club aren’t quite in the bracket of PSV and they could be in for a very difficult night in Turkey.
Zalgiris Targeting Perfect Start
NS Mura and Zalgiris Vilnius both dropped out of the Champions League in the second qualifying phase, losing to Ludogorets and Ferencvaros respectively.
They have a second opportunity to keep their European adventure alive in the Europa League and there’s plenty of reason to believe Zalgiris, who are priced at 3/1, can get a first-leg victory at the Mestni Stadion Fazanerija.
Mura have made a dismal start to 2021-22 and they sit bottom of the Slovenian top-flight after failing to win any of their opening three games.
Zalgiris, meanwhile, are the pacesetters in Lithuania and were unbeaten in 12 until they fell to successive defeats against Ferencvaros.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
