Celtic Get Dinamo Moscow

By: Matt | July 17th, 2009

Celtic’s Champions League qualifying campaign will begin in Russia’s capital city. Today’s Champions League draw matched Celtic up with last year’s third place Russian League team Dinamo Moscow. The first leg of the tie is scheduled for Celtic Park on Wednesday, July 29, with the return leg in Moscow the following week, Wednesday, August 5. With the Russian League already well under way, Dinamo Moscow currently sit seventh after thirteen matches, but Celtic are likely to take this for granted after taking on Aalborg last year in their Champions League group. Of course, two years ago Celtic were in the Russian capital for another Champions League qualifier, taking on Dinamo’s city rivals Spartak Moscow. After a 1-1 draw in Moscow, the sides fought out a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park, with Celtic progressing to the group stages of the Champions League following a dramatic penalty shoot-out, seeing Artur Boruc make some keys saves to Celtic win. Tony Mowbray said of the draw, “Russian teams are very fit, methodical and organised and I’m sure they will give us a tough test. But I’m sure they are looking at the draw and thinking it is a big ask for them. We are happy to take whoever it was and I don’t have any preferences in cup draws. We are not in the industry of making excuses. In a strange sort of way, while you would like to play the second game of the tie at home, after the traveling we have done it is a benefit that we will be at home first.” If Celtic progress to the second qualifying round, they will be drawn against either Arsenal, Lyon, Stuttgart, Fiorentina or Atletico Madrid, who are the seeds in the next stage of the best-placed path. Could have been a better draw, but it could have been worse. Dinamo are struggling now it seems, but these qualifiers are their own animal. I really really really wanted English national team failure and coach of Twente FC Steve McClarren made some noise, saying he wanted Celtic in the draw. It would have been nice to send McClarren home crying, like he use to when Wayne, Stevie, and Fat Frank would be mean to him. Such a shame we can’t. Oh well. Bring ‘em on.