Europa League preview

[RAB - P]

Hapoel Tel-Aviv v Celtic

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray is expected to welcome back winger Aiden McGeady when his side take on Hapoel Tel-Aviv on Thursday.

The Bhoys continue their European campaign, albeit in the Europa League, with a tricky away trip to Israel in their Group C opener.

The Hoops dropped into the revamped second-tier European club competition after being knocked out at the UEFA Champions League play-off stage by Arsenal.

The two sides have not met since their 1999 Uefa Cup tie in which Celtic came out 3-0 aggregate winners under the management of current Tranmere boss John Barnes.

McGeady returns from suspension for the clash at the Bloomfield Stadium as the Parkhead side look to get off to a positive start in their campaign.

The Republic of Ireland international sat out Saturday's 1-1 draw with Dundee United in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League but Mowbray is set to recall him to his midfield.

Club captain Stephen McManus continues to wait for his first Hoops start of the season after recovering from a knee injury with the hostile Tel-Aviv crowd perhaps not the most suitable venue for his return.

The home side go into the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Hapoel Beer-Sheva at the weekend and may fancy their chances in the soaring 30 degree heat.

However, the Israelis are considered to be the weakest team a group also made up of German giants Hamburg and Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna, who knocked out Aston Villa earlier in the tournament.

Hapoel boss Eli Guttman is expected to name an experienced side with midfield duo Nemanja Vucicevic and Zurab Menteshashvili their key players.

Extra officials will take up positions behind either goal to assist referee Paul Allaerts as part of Uefa's experiment to help with penalty area incidents.

Everton v AEK Athens
Everton begin their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday with a home date against AEK Athens.

The Toffees saw their European adventure ended at the qualification stage last term so will be desperate to make an impact this time around.

They did reach the last 16 of the 2007/08 Uefa Cup, before coming up short on penalties against Fiorentina, so do have recent experience of life at this level.

David Moyes' men are also likely to regard continental competition as welcome relief from the everyday slog of the Premier League.

The Merseysiders have made a torrid start to their domestic endeavours this season, with just one victory taken from four fixtures so far.

That may not be the best preparation for the opening of the Europa League group stages, but the Toffees have recovered well from slow beginnings in the past.

Greek outfit AEK Athens will, however, be keen to advantage of Everton's recent failings when they arrive in England.

They are just two games into their Super League season back home, but have taken maximum points from those fixtures.

Serbian coach Dusan Bajevic will, therefore, fancy his chances of overseeing an upset on Thursday, especially as the Toffees face a selection dilemma heading into the game.

Club captain Phil Neville damaged knee ligaments at Fulham on Sunday and he is facing up to three months on the sidelines.

Spanish schemer Mikel Arteta is also still nursing his way back to full fitness, while Tony Hibbert misses out through suspension.

Recent arrival Johnny Heitinga is ineligible and Nigerian frontman Victor Anichebe is also unavailable.

Everton will, however, give new Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov his full debut at Goodison Park.

The 24-year-old has so far managed just a few minutes as a late substitute against Wigan following his £10million move from Locomotiv Moscow, and was left on the bench at Fulham last weekend.

AEK have few worries ahead of the European showdown and will be hoping their attacking weapons fire on all cylinders.

Experienced Spaniard Juanfran has made an impressive start to the new season and Everton will need to nullify his threat.

Another familiar face to the Toffees will be Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth, who is on loan at AEK from their Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

CSKA Sofia v Fulham
The Premier League club have left several regulars back in West London for the trip to Bulgaria, with Hodgson insisting he is not neglecting the competition.

Aston Villa and Tottenham were both knocked out of last season's Uefa Cup after fielding weakened teams, but Hodgson is confident he still has enough quality to achieve a result from their opening match in Group E.

Midfield duo Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey are injured, while the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Brede Hangeland and Andy Johnson have been left at home.

Of the team which started Sunday's 2-1 win over Everton in the Premier League, only goalkeeper David Stockdale and right-back John Pantsil are expected to feature against CSKA.

Summer signings Jonathan Greening, Bjorn Helge Riise and Stephen Kelly are among the players set to be given a run-out in the game.

Hodgson also confirmed Simon Davies, Zoltan Gera, Erik Nevland, Diomansy Kamara and Chris Baird will be involved in the fixture.

"We've signed a lot of new players in the summer and they're champing at the bit to show what they can do in the first team," said Hodgson.

"They've had to wait a long while for their chance because I've been quite conservative with my team selection.

"We've got a long season with many games ahead of us. That, plus the fact that we're coming off the back of an international week, in which a lot of our players played two matches.

"I made the decision fairly early on that, with this being the first game following an international week and a very important game against Everton, this was the right moment to let one or two of the lads, who we've not seen too much of, show what they can do.

"We are very happy to be in this competition, we're looking forward to it, we think it's a great adventure, but we also think it's a great adventure for the squad - not just 11 players."

CSKA currently top the Bulgarian league and Lubomir Penev's side will certainly provide a stern test for Fulham after knocking out Dinamo Moscow in the previous round.

In a group which also contains Roma and Basel, Fulham will be determined to get off to a positive start if they are to fulfil any hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

 

[jaffa]

Going to be interesting in these matches because Uefa are using 2 extra officials, one behind each goal, so in total there are now 6 officials.

Good luck to all the British teams.

 

[RAB - P]

Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2 - 1 Celtic

Living in LALA-LAND​

Celtic surrendered the lead as Hapoel claimed a deserved win in their Europa League Group C opener in Israel.

Following a slow start, Georgios Samaras fired Celtic ahead on 25 minutes with a well-taken low strike.

The Scots controlled the rest of the half, but Hapoel emerged for the second period re-energised.

With the visitors pinned back, Nemanja Vucicevic slammed in the leveller before Maaran Lala stabbed in the winner from close range on 88 minutes.

The defeat will leave a sour taste in the mouth for Celtic after leading for so long in the game, but their second-half display left a lot to be desired.

As a result of the reverse Tony Mowbray's men sit in third place in the group as Rapid Vienna recorded a 3-0 win over German league leaders Hamburg.

Having proven against Dinamo Moscow that they are capable of winning away from home after a barren six years of on their travels optimism was high that Celtic could repeat the feat against Hapoel, who have had an unremarkable start to their domestic campaign.

But in the stifling Israeli heat the hosts began, perhaps understandably, with much more pace than the Scottish visitors.

Hapoel's Bebars Natcho in particular looked energetic darting forward from midfield and with less than a minute on the clock he had a headed chance which he was unable to keep down.

Celtic, with a cautious 4-5-1 formation, had most of their early possession along the back four as the Israeli team retreated to defend en masse.

But the Glasgow club were denied the lead on 11 minutes when goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made a dextrous save to tip Samaras' header on to the bar from Shaun Maloney's corner.

However, Celtic had Artur Boruc to thank at the other end for staying on level terms when he saved low from Vucicevic after a slide-rule pass had split the Scots' defence

With 25 minutes played Celtic made the breakthrough.

Gary Caldwell, playing in a holding midfield role, picked out Samaras with a long pass, which the lone striker controlled on his chest before lashing low inside the far post.

Celtic looked comfortable following the goal, stringing passes together and slowing the match down, as Hapoel's early eagerness seemed to dissipate.

Zurab Menteshashvili stung Boruc's palms with a long-range effort towards the end of the half.

But a good first-half showing for Celtic was somewhat sullied by Aiden McGeady picking up an unnecessary booking for reacting to a foul.

Soon after the restart Uefa's extra official behind the Celtic goal remained impassive amid Hapoel penalty claims when a ball into the box flicked off Stephen McManus' arm.

And moments later Natcho's calls for a spot-kick were rewarded with a yellow card for a theatrical dive with no defender nearby.

But Hapoel had started the second period in the same vein as the first, and Boruc was again called upon to parry away a fierce Gil Vermouth shot.

As the half wore on Celtic posed less and less of a threat and eventually they were undone.

Right-winger Samuel Yeboah's ball across goal was only knocked weakly into the path of Vucecevic, and the Serbian midfielder cracked the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

In the closing 15 minutes, Celtic survived a number of scares as Hapoel looked the more likely side to claim victory.

And agonisingly for Celtic, Lala lunged on the the six yard box to knock Vermouth's pass into the net for a deserved victory, as the visitors paid the price for a largely toothless second-half display.

Everton 4 - 0 AEK Athens​

Everton put their domestic struggles aside to crush AEK Athens 4-0 at Goodison Park in their opening Europa League group game.

The Toffees may be languishing in the bottom three of the Premier League but they seem determined to enjoy a long European run following a convincing victory over their Greek opponents.

Joseph Yobo headed Everton in front on 10 minutes before Sylvain Distin grabbed his first goal for the club seven minutes later following a scramble in the six-yard box.

Steven Pienaar made it 3-0 with a fine strike before half-time and Everton continued to carve out opportunities at will after Carlos Araujo was dismissed for the visitors before Jo added a late fourth.

However, the night ended on a sour note when Louis Saha was sent off after lashing out with his arm at Juanfran in stoppage time.

AEK were on the back foot after only seven minutes when Pienaar tried to release Jo, only for Sanel Jahic to make a timely interception.

It was a taste of what was to come as Pienaar came within inches of putting Everton ahead two minutes later with a fierce shot.

Goalkeeper Sebastian Saja parried his effort around the post. Russian newcomer Diniyar Bilyaletdinov delivered the corner and Yobo peeled away from his marker to open the scoring.

Everton went 2-0 ahead in the 17th minute and it was another corner from Bilyaletdinov that led to the goal.

The Greek side failed to deal with it and Marouane Fellaini was the first to react in a crowded area.

Even though he failed to get a decent touch, AEK were all at sea and the ball broke to Distin, who made no mistake from close range.

Jo came close to extending Everton's lead in the 24th minute, heading narrowly over the bar from close range.

The Brazilian was then first to react when the ball was pumped into the area but found the wrong side of the post with his close-range effort.

Bilyaletdinov came close in the 35th minute after good link-up play involving Pienaar and Jo.

Everton were cruising and Pienaar made it 3-0 in the 37th minute with a goal out of nothing.

The South African latched on to a good crossfield ball from Bilyaletdinov to thump a shot from 25 yards beyond the goalkeeper.

AEK's troubles increased in the 55th minute, with Carlos Araujo sent off after kicking out at Distin following a challenge with the French defender.

Everton were prepared to play with patience in a bid to extend their lead.

Substitute Yakubu laid the ball into the path of Pienaar in the 62nd minute only for the goalkeeper to stick out a hand and parry his effort from 20 yards.

Then Jack Rodwell tried his luck from distance but Saja made a comfortable save.

Everton kept up the pressure and Leon Osman clipped a shot wide of the post in the 66th minute after Yakubu had carved out the opening for the home side.

Saha should have extended their lead in the 79th minute but sent his shot over the bar from four yards.

But they did not have long to wait, with Jo getting their fourth goal three minutes later before Saha's sending off.

CSKA Sofia 1 - 1 Fulham​

A Diomansy Kamara equaliser was enough to earn a point for Fulham against CSKA Sofia in a 1-1 draw in the Balgarska Armiya.

Roy Hodgson's men travelled to the Bulgarian capital with a very different squad from the one that beat Everton last weekend, and the only two players that remained in the starting line-up were John Pantsil and keeper David Stockdale.

After a cagey first half it was the hosts who took the lead thanks to a strike from substitute Michel from the edge of the penalty area on 62 minutes.

But Fulham hit back just three minutes later as Kamara broke free after a ball over the top bounced favourably for him to round the goalkeeper and slot home for deserved point in their opening Europa League group game.

The introduction of an additional assistant referee alongside each goal passed without incident, though in a dismal first half this owed much to the lack of action in the penalty area.

Ivan Stoyanov provided one of the few highlights when he reacted smartly to some careless play by Fulham, linking neatly with Yordan Todorov before firing narrowly wide of the left post.

The teams took turns to give away possession in midfield and both lacked penetration in the face of some energetic defending.

Slowly CSKA began tightening the screw, spending more time in Fulham's half without actually threatening the goal and their period of domination ended without reward.

The Bulgarian club looked a different outfit after the interval, attacking with

purpose and flair.

Slippery footwork from substitute Marquinhos ended with a superb flat ball into the box that CSKA claimed Stephen Kelly handled, but referee Darko Ceferin was not persuaded.

Marquinhos chested the ball down to Michel Platini who buried the half-volley from the edge of the area for an impressive 63rd-minute strike that the home fans celebrated wildly.

The lead lasted just three minutes, however, as the bounce of Nevland's pass deceived Karadzhov and Kamara was able to skip away from the keeper before finding an empty net.

Stockdale produced a stunning save to deny Yordan Todorov, showing lightning reflexes to palm the ball over the crossbar.