Celtic and high scoring European victories

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The Celtic Star

·21 settembre 2024

Celtic and high scoring European victories

Tomorrow the Celts are back in domestic action when Falkirk come to Glasgow to play in the League Cup. As important as this is, Celtic fans are understandably still thinking about midweek events when the Bhoys’ European campaign began…

Five goals in a single game – the most Celtic have ever achieved in one Champions League match – is a great scoreline.

This was the Bhoys’ third 5-1 European scoreline; previously they have done this in the Cup-Winner’s Cup in 1963 against Basel and then again in 1968 when facing Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup. The latter game is part of Celtic legend. Jimmy Johnstone famously hated flying so Jock Stein told him he did not have to go to Yugoslavia for the return leg if the job was finished in Glasgow. He turned in a 5-star performance and was spared the journey.

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In fact, this week’s 5-1 win looks even better when compared to previous Champions League campaigns.

This is Celtic’s 13th season in the Champions League (excluding qualifiers). However unlike previous years, this season’s competition sees a change; there are now eight games instead of six.

To date, the most goals Celtic have scored in an entire group stage (six games) has been nine, in 2012-13.

In the 12 full campaigns, Celtic have only scored more than five goals on four occasions (2001-02, 2002-03, 2006-07 and 2012-13).

Four times, Celtic haven’t even scored five goals across all six games (2004-05, 2008-09, 2013-14, 2022-23).

And in four other campaigns (2007-08, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2023-24), Celtic did get five goals, but spread across all six games.

Excluding the midweek match, it has taken Celtic an average of five games to score five goals. But against Bratislava, it was done in 90 minutes, which is quite the difference!

Hopefully, this year Celtic will have a good goal difference at the end of the group stages. In the previous 12 CL appearances, Celtic have only twice ended the group with a positive goal difference (2003-04, 2012-13)

The overall goals record for the club is actually very poor. Celtic have finished as low as -13 (2017-18), and three times it’s been -11 when it comes to goals conceded compared to goals scored!

Interestingly, in the three seasons that Celtic qualified out of the group (2006-07, 2007-08, 2012-13), only once did they have a positive goal difference. This was a +1 record in 2012-13, scoring nine whilst conceding eight.

In Europe, big scoring games are exciting – as long as you’re not getting hammered. Celtic have suffered some huge Champions League losses, including losing seven to Barcelona and PSG.

In terms of reasons to cheer, before Wednesday, Celtic’s most goals in a Champions League game was 4-3 versus Juventus in 2001. This exciting match is well-remembered by fans who attended, although ended in disappointment as the Bhoys exited the group stages.

In other competitions, Celtic have also had some massive victories, including 9-0 versus Kokkola in the 1970-71 European Cup, and then 7-0 v Waterford in the next round. This was the same beating given to faced Valur in the 1975-76 Cup-Winners’ Cup. In more recent times, Celtic hammered Suduva 8-1 on the road to Seville in 2002-03.

Even with the five goals scored this week, no-one at Celtic is getting carried away – there will be much harder games to come. But in the past, the Celts have not performed or finished as well in games like these. So, there are reasons to be hopeful for the campaign ahead.

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory

Click on cover to order a hardback copy

Manchester bound for the legends game. Reading material sorted. @hailhailhistory
– sabato 7 settembre 2024

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.