Villarreal (H) Preview

Last updated : 07 April 2004 By Kevin Smith
Celtic v Villarreal CF
UEFA Cup Quarter Final, First Leg
Thursday 8th April 2004
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Kick Off 7.45pm, Live on BBC

For the second season in a row, we find ourselves in the Quarter Finals of the UEFA Cup. Memories of this time last year send shivers down my spine. It was at this round last season we knocked out Liverpool, having already seen off Suduva, Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo and Stuttgart.

Tomorrow night will be just as, if not more difficult than the Liverpool game last year. Having had a look at Villarreal, it appears the match may be more like Boavista, in last year's Semis.

The Spaniards are a mainly defensive side, and are happy winning games 1-0. Their counter attacking play resembles Celtic's in many ways. I watched them against Barcelona at the weekend and wasn't greatly impressed, however they did manage a 0-0 draw and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.

Tomorrow night they will be out to frustrate Celtic, they will dive, waste time and if they only concede a goal or two, will be reasonably happy. They are not too quick looking, but will be skillful on and off the ball. Their main man is Brazillian Sonny Anderson up-front, who is quick and will stick the ball away at any opportunity.

A 2-2 draw at home to Hearts wasn't exactly the greatest result to display for the Villarreal scouts in attendance at the weekend, but they will be taken back by the sheer determination and fight of this Celtic side. Two late goals sealed the draw for The Bhoys, and it will be duly noted that we will never give up. Especially with the Celtic Park crowd behind the team all the way.

We will welcome back Neil Lennon and Stan Petrov into the starting line-up. David Marshall will play in goals, and in-front of him will be Bobo Balde, Stan Varga and possibly Johan Mjallby. Didier Agathe is a key man for Celtic: when he plays - Celtic play. Larsson and Sutton will do the damage up-front.

Once again, we have the opportunity to take a lead to Spain, where we are well capable of scoring and holding out for a result in a week's time. But it is not going to be easy. Yes, we are the favourites, which is probably not suited to us, but of course we can do it. I only hope there are no idiots in the crowd getting on the team's back and leaving with ten minutes to go! If there are where you sit, let them know how you feel.

Win, lose or draw, it will be another fantastic European night for all Celtic fans. Let's blow the roof off!

Hail Hail!

Celtic-Mad Prediction: Celtic 1-0 Villarreal