With Parkhead, and the usual fall back of Hampden Park, out of commission due to being used for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Celtic opted to play their Champions League qualifiers in Edinburgh at the home of Scottish rugby, Murrayfield.
For myself, and indeed many other of the groundhopping glitterati, it was therefore a Tuesday trip north and we joined the green and white army as they decamped to the Scottish capital.
Murrayfield officially opened on March 21, 1925, when Scotland beat England 14-11, on their way to the Grand Slam. Murrayfield has previously hosted football matches when Heart of Midlothian used Murrayfield as their home venue for their European campaign in the 2004/05 season, and again in 2006, as their Tynecastle Stadium did not meet UEFA criteria. Hearts, and Hibernian, have also used Murrayfield for pre-season friendlies against Barcelona.
The Murrayfield Clock (left) and War Memorial (right)
Murrayfield officially opened on March 21, 1925, when Scotland beat England 14-11, on their way to the Grand Slam. Murrayfield has previously hosted football matches when Heart of Midlothian used Murrayfield as their home venue for their European campaign in the 2004/05 season, and again in 2006, as their Tynecastle Stadium did not meet UEFA criteria. Hearts, and Hibernian, have also used Murrayfield for pre-season friendlies against Barcelona.
Celtic, who have a proud Champions League history, being the first British winners of the trophy in 1967, were 1-0 up from the first leg against Icelandic champions KR Reykjavik. To be honest the tie was over as a contest within 27 minutes as Celtic eased into a 3-0 lead. The part-timers defence being carved open at will.
A brace from Virgil van Dijk (13 & 20) in the opening 20 minutes was quickly followed by a goal from Teemu Pukki (27). KR were not without there own chances and with a little more composure they might have got on the scoresheet. The closest they came was a Gary martin effort smacking the crossbar in the opening minute.
The second half was pretty much a non-event as KR went on a damage limitation act and Celtic, understandably, took their foot off the pedal. Pukki netted his second on 71 minutes to make it 4-0 and see Celtic through to the next round where they will play Polish champions Legia Warsaw.
I was very impressed with Murrayfield as a stadium, once I eventually got through the turnstiles after having problems with my print-at-home ticket (I was ultimately issued with a proper replacement) and also impressed with the Celtic fans, who created a good atmosphere and backed their team throughout. The nature of the singing was good (apart from, obviously, a certain song long associated with a team in red) and I didn't hear any sectarian chanting at all, which was pleasing. The overall experience of tonight made the long midweek journey very much worthwhile.
A brace from Virgil van Dijk (13 & 20) in the opening 20 minutes was quickly followed by a goal from Teemu Pukki (27). KR were not without there own chances and with a little more composure they might have got on the scoresheet. The closest they came was a Gary martin effort smacking the crossbar in the opening minute.
The second half was pretty much a non-event as KR went on a damage limitation act and Celtic, understandably, took their foot off the pedal. Pukki netted his second on 71 minutes to make it 4-0 and see Celtic through to the next round where they will play Polish champions Legia Warsaw.
I was very impressed with Murrayfield as a stadium, once I eventually got through the turnstiles after having problems with my print-at-home ticket (I was ultimately issued with a proper replacement) and also impressed with the Celtic fans, who created a good atmosphere and backed their team throughout. The nature of the singing was good (apart from, obviously, a certain song long associated with a team in red) and I didn't hear any sectarian chanting at all, which was pleasing. The overall experience of tonight made the long midweek journey very much worthwhile.
