Celtic are beginning to believe that they can overtake Betis in the Europa League. Their two victories against Ferencvaros and the win conceded by Pellegrini’s pupils in Leverkusen has placed the Scots within a single point and they still have the duel of the last day pending, which will face them against the Heliopolitan team in Glasgow.
But to get to that last match with options before they must do the grinding and get something positive from Leverkusen, given that Betis is supposed to beat the Hungarians from Ferencvaros at Benito Villamarín.
That hope seems complicated, given the superiority that the German team has shown in the group and, especially, in their visit to Celtic, which they thrashed 0-5 on the second day of the Europa League Group Stage. But the Scots are in a good moment, they have adapted to what their coach, Ange Postecoglou, asks of them and they are not only coming back in Europe but also in the Scottish Premier.
The euphoria of the Catholic team has been transferred to a hobby that is very faithful and that throws the rest when necessary. Those 60,000 Scots who packed Seville in 2003 for the UEFA Cup final between Porto and Celtic will always be remembered. Therefore, a massive landing is expected in Leverkusen.
The German club offered 1,500 tickets to Celtic fans and they have sold out in no time. Faced with complaints from the fans, who wanted more, Celtic fan liaison officer John Paul Taylor was quick to clarify that this was all that Bayer Leverkusen had made available to them.
However, given that the BayArena is only occupying half capacity in the two European games that have been played there – between 11,000 and 15,000 of the 30,000 people that fit – it could be the case that there is a massive arrival of Scottish fans, which they would try to get hold of the tickets they put on sale at the box office. Or pressure with it for Bayer to give them some more tickets.
Celtic, with their two victories over Ferencvaros, has already made sure to continue in competition next year, in the Conference League, and has nothing to lose in two rounds that could be less placid for Betis than at first thought.
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