Hungary Bhoys Appetite For Success

Hungary Bhoys Appetite For Success
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Kyogo Furuhashi wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Ferencvaros


Group G - Matchday 4

Goupama Arena, Budapest
Thursday, 4 November 2021
20.00 GMT

Celtic have the mouth-watering proposition of being able to all but ensure their passage to European football after the turn of the year, in one way or another, with a win in their clash with Ferencvaros in Budapest on Thursday.

And if the the Bhoys can secure another three points, it would require their hosts to defeat both Real Betis and Bayern Leverkusen just to draw level with Celtic, let alone any other points that Ange Postecoglou's men might be able to pick up also.

So the stakes are there for all to see, and hopefully should provide the incentive, ambition and hunger required to secure another away win - which would make it four in a row for the Hoops.

Hopes will be that there will be another quality performance to match last month's 2-0 success, which could - and possibly should - have finished even more comfortably than the final scoreline indicated.

Although there will be a few changes made to Ange Postecoglou's side from the one that performed a few weeks ago in Glasgow, with Tom Rogic and Carl Starfelt both having been sidelined through injury since then.

History in Hungary

Historically speaking, Celtic have fared much better against Hungarian teams in Glasgow than when they've been required to travel across the continent. The Bhoys have a record of two wins and four loses from the six matches played on Hungarian soil.

Indeed, Celtic's first ever European Semi-Final appearance was in the 1963/64 Cup Winners Cup, and hopes would have been high of Jimmy McGrory's side being the club's first ever representatives in a European Final after taking a 3-0 lead from the first match at Parkhead - only to lose 4-0 to MTK Budapest in the return leg.

However, Celtic's last visit to Hungary was far more satisfying, when Martin O'Neill's side returned to Scotland having secured a comprehensive 4-0 victory over those same opponants, courtesy of goals from Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Shaun Maloney and Liam Miller in August 2003.


2003: Larsson scored his 31st European goal the last time Ceitic visited Hungary

About the Hosts

The defending Hungarian Champions have been experiencing a few wobbles this season and a big part of that has been their form at home. In fact, since late September, they have not won any of their last three matches on their own patch; losing twice and drawing the other.

Ferencvaros boss, Peter Stoger, feels that those recent results indicate that his side have turned a corner since the two sides met in Glasgow last month, and is all too well aware that Thursday's match may be the last chance saloon time, as they look to try and snap a six game losing streak in European competition.

On the other hand, Ferencvaros come into this game on the back of two successive away wins, with two clean sheets and a total of nine goals scored over those two results - a 2-0 in the League and 7-0 in their Cup competition.

This puts into context the extent of what Celtic will be up against, and expect the hosts to put up a big fight, once the game kicks off.

Team News



The injury cloud that looked like breaking finally in recent weeks seemed to once again be gathering over Ange Postecoglou's squad. No sooner have Mikey Johnston and James Forrest returned to action, the Bhoys lose central defender Carl Starfelt at the weekend, with the reported assessment that it will be a 'couple of weeks'.

This is a similiar situation with Tom Rogic, and after almost a year out it is anticipated that Christopher Julien will also be close to making a comeback during the next phase of games following the coming International break, fingers crossed, which will be great to see, even if that still leaves concerns about Greg Taylor and Karamoko Dembele.

As for Thursday's match, Ange Postecoglou will be turning to either Stephen Walsh or Nir Bitton to slot in alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence in Starfelt's absence.

~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 2 W: 1 D: 0 L: 1

Last Meeting
2-0
19 October 2021

~~~~ 2021/22 Form ~~~~

Overall
DWWWW ~ WWDLL

Europe
WLLLW ~ LLLLL

CEL Away - FER Home
WWWLL ~ DLLWW​