PSV, Celtic advance to CL playoffs
Print Edition
Former European Cup winners PSV Eindhoven and Celtic reached the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday, the Dutch side with ease and the Scots after surviving a tricky test on an artificial pitch in Sweden.
The highlight of PSV’s 3-0 second-leg win at Zulte Waregem was a scorching volley by right-winger Zakaria Bakkali, his first goal for the club, while Celtic’s defense was instrumental in the 0-0 draw at Elfsborg that took them through.
Austria Vienna, Zenit St Petersburg and Dinamo Zagreb also survived the third qualifying round but the performance of the night came from Viktoria Plzen who thrashed Estonia’s Kalju Nomme 10-2 on aggregate after a 6-2 home win.
Celtic struggled to string moves together on Elfsborg’s synthetic pitch despite creating good chances in the first 20 minutes, the best a shot from Joe Ledley which goalkeeper Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard saved superbly.
The Scottish side’s defense kept the Swedes at bay though and Celtic went through thanks to a goal from Kris Commons in the first leg.
“That’s the worst artificial pitch I’ve ever seen, it was difficult for the players to keep their balance,” said Neil Lennon, who guided Celtic past Barcelona in last season’s group stages.
“It was a cup final for Elfsborg and our back four were magnificent.” Celtic reached the last 16 in 2012/13.
PSV, which led 2-0 from its home leg, took the lead from the penalty spot in the 56th minute.
A shot from Depay was stopped on the line with his arm by Zulte’s Steve Colpaert. Although Matavz put the ball in the net, a penalty was given and Colpaert sent off.
They added a second through Bakkali and Bruno Godeau completed an unhappy night for the Belgian side by scoring an own goal in added time.
Twenty two of Europe’s elite have already qualified for the group stage. They will be joined by the 10 teams who make it through this month’s two-legged playoffs to join last season’s winners Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester United.
Zenit St Petersburg eased through 6-0 on aggregate against Nordsjaelland, last season’s surprise Champions League team.
Dinamo Zagreb are two games from reaching the group stages for the third season in a row after earning a 3-0 win against Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova for a 4-0 aggregate victory.
The Croatians have struggled in the Champions League group stage, losing 11 games in succession before drawing 1-1 with Dynamo Kiev last December.
The playoffs draw is today.
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