Scottish Women's Football

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Elena Sadiku hopes Celtic's change of stadium will encourage more fans to turn out for matches.

The Glasgow club recently announced they'd be moving their home stadium from the Excelsior in Airdrie to New Douglas Park in Hamilton.

It won't be until later on this month when they play their first home league game of the season at the new venue but they've got a game against Rangers to worry about first.

"I'm excited," Sadiku said of the stadium change.

"I just want to play football and play games and hopefully we can get more fans in. That's what I want.

"I want more people to be able to come and watch our games.

"If a change of stadium is going to make that happen then I'm happy to welcome them."

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Rangers boss Jo Potter insists her players need to "do the business elsewhere" as well as beating their closest rivals.

They come up against Celtic on Thursday night in the first derby meeting of the season and the first since the heartbreak of last season.

Despite winning both the Scottish Cup and the SWPL Cup last season, Rangers missed out on clinching the league title on the final day as a result of Celtic's superior goal difference.

"I said to the girls at the back end of last year, out of 11 games against our rivals, we lost one and that’s not where we lost the league," Potter said.

"For as much as these games do matter, you can’t lose too many of them, it’s the other ones that matter as well.

"We need to make sure we’re up for these games but also make sure we’re doing our business elsewhere as well."

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Rachel McLauchlan is still "haunted" by the way Rangers lost the SWPL title last season.

Celtic and Rangers took it to the final day but the former's superior goal difference meant they were the ones lifting the trophy, despite both sides finishing on the same goal tally.

Since then, the defender has made the move down south to join Brighton but fondly remembers the meetings with Celtic.

The sides meet for the first derby of the season on Thursday night.

"I loved them," McLauchlan told BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"It's the games you look forward to the most, you always know it's going to be a really competitive game.

"Even weeks before that game's coming up you want to get your momentum. I'm really excited to see how Thursday will go. Both teams have started really well.

"It's still very early in the league but I think all the players will have the goal difference in the back of their minds. I know it'll haunt me forever even though I'm not at Rangers anymore.

"I'm sure both teams will be really ready to go and looking to get the three points."

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Glasgow City visit Celtic while holders Rangers come up against Motherwell in the SWPL Cup quarter-finals.

Last season's beaten finalists Partick Thistle are at home to Hibs.

Boroughmuir Thistle, who are the only SWPL 2 side left in the competition, are at home to Aberdeen.

All ties are scheduled to be play on the weekend of 10 November.

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Celtic will host Chelsea in their Champions League Group B game in November at Celtic Park.

It was announced last week Elena Sadiku's side will now call New Douglas Park in Hamilton home, after moving from the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie, but one group game in their maiden Champions League campaign would be played at the home of the men's team.

Women's Super League champions Chelsea will take to the Parkhead turf on Wednesday, 13 November with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.

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Champions League debutants Celtic will face Chelsea, Real Madrid and Twente in Group B after beating Vorskla Poltava 3-0 on aggregate to qualify.

Here's what you need to know about their opponents:

Chelsea reached the semi-finals of last season's competition, losing 2-1 to Barcelona over two legs. However, Emma Hayes guided the team to domestic glory, winning the Women's Super League for a record seventh time in her final year at the club. Scottish international Erin Cuthbert is likely to star for the English champions in midfield.

Real Madrid finished second in Liga F behind rivals Barcelona last campaign, but were knocked out of the Women's Champions League in the group stages. They beat Sporting 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for this year's competition and have Scottish international Caroline Weir amongst their other top European talents.

Twente are reigning Dutch champions and blew away the opposition on their way to group stage qualification. They thumped Cardiff City 7-0 and Valur 5-0 before swatting Osijek aside with a 8-1 aggregate victory. Joran Pot's side failed to the qualify for this stage of the competition last season.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Talk about rubbing shoulders with Europe's elite.

Celtic have been drawn in a bumper group for their first foray in the Champions League proper.

They avoided last season's finalists - Barcelona and Lyon - but can look forward to facing reigning Women's Super League champions, Chelsea.

Former Lyon boss Sonia Bompaster, the first female to win this competition as a player and head coach, has been set the task of emulating that success with Chelsea.

There's a familiar face in their midfield in the shape of Scotland international Erin Cuthbert. And Chelsea also recently recruited right-back Lucy Bronze, fresh off the back of back-to-back Champions League wins with Barcelona.

There's a return home on the horizon for Caroline Weir, too. The midfielder will be back in Scotland with her Real Madrid side.

While there are no Scottish links in the Twente team, it's yet another exciting encounter to look forward to.

You only need to look at their second-round result - an aggregate 8-1 triumph against Croatia's Osijek - to understand the Dutch outfit are no mugs.

Head coach Elena Sadiku said she hopes to "surprise teams" in the competition. But it would be a big shock should Celtic upset any of these heavyweights.

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Celtic have announced their women's team will play home fixtures at New Douglas Park Stadium in Hamilton for the next two seasons.

After becoming the first Scottish club to qualify for the Women’s Champions League group stage, the club could not continue to play matches at Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie because of the competition's "stadium criteria".

Elena Sadiku's side will play all domestic and European home fixtures at their new ground in South Lanarkshire, which is also home to Hamilton Academical's women's team and Accies and Clyde in the men's game.

"Playing in a home stadium that meets all Uefa Women’s group stage requirements and allows us to make the matchday experience better still for our supporters is crucial as we continue our journey," said Celtic head coach Sadiku.

"This will provide our team with a true home for Celtic Women’s football, offering an excellent environment where I am sure we can continue to flourish.

"We have come a long way and I would like to thank all our fans for being with us on this journey."

Debutants Celtic will face Chelsea, Real Madrid and Twente in Women's Champions League Group B.

Elena Sadiku's SWPL champions qualified for the group stage for the first time by overcoming Finland's KuPS, Lithuania's Gintra and Ukraine's Vorskla Poltava in qualifying.

WSL winners Chelsea reached last season's Champions League semi-finals while Spain's Real featured at the group stage. Eredivisie winners Twente were knocked out at the WCL qualifying stage in the previous three campaigns but won all their qualifiers this term.

Celtic, who are unbeaten this season, return to domestic action in Sunday's SWPL Cup second-round tie away to Monrtose.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Albert Bartlett Stadium

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Elena Sadiku hopes Celtic can "surprise teams" in the Champions League group stages.

The Scottish champions will learn of their opponents later today and while there is unprecedented delight and pride in their camp, they're not entering this competition merely to make up the numbers.

Celtic are the first Scottish side to reach the groups since the competition underwent a revamp, and the Swede wants her side to use that history as motivation.

"I don't think I can explain the excitement that is in that locker room right now," the head coach said. "We need to be confident because we've enjoyed something which nobody in Scotland has done before.

"If that doesn't give them confidence, then I don't know what will!

"I'm just really happy for the players. They're living their dream, they're going to play the top players out in Europe and that's exactly what we want to do.

"We want to compete out in Europe. We'll need to learn from this experience because it's going to be tough but with the togetherness in this group, I hope we can surprise teams."

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Former Scotland goalkeeper Cammy Bell believes Celtic's qualification for the group stages of the Champions League will be "massive' for women's football in Scotland".

Elena Sadiku's side became the first Scottish team to qualify for the Women’s Champions League group stage since it was introduced in 2020-21, after they beat Vorskla Poltava 2-0 on Thursday for a 3-0 aggregate victory.

"It's massive for women's football in Scotland," Bell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"It was just a brilliant result and it's great for Scottish women's game.

"It's growing all the time and this progression from Celtic reaching the group stages of the Champions League is going to be massive.

"All the media hype that comes with it that, it's just new exposure for the women's game.

"Exciting times in the women's game and hopefully that continues."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Albert Bartlett Stadium

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"I'm still in a daze from signing, it's just surreal."

It's been a whirlwind two weeks for Emma Lawton.

In the space of 14 days the 23-year-old has gone from plying her trade part-time for Partick Thistle to signing full-time for Celtic, then starting and scoring in their final Champions League qualifier.

The full-back admitted she's a confidence-based player, and given her crazy - yet commanding - two weeks, confidence ought to be sky-high.

The Scotland under-23 international was the only change for Thursday night's match from the first leg, and she was a bright light in an otherwise dull first half in Airdrie.

She danced and drove down the right time and time again, but she was smack in the middle of the goal, awaiting Lucy Ashworth-Clifford's cross for the opener.

"It was a great cross from Lucy and I just thought to give it everything, and thankfully it went in," she said once the celebrations had tamed enough for her to talk.

"I wasn’t 100% sure it went in, then I heard the cheers so I knew, then I thought I’ll just wait here on everybody coming to me."

If anyone deserved a wee minute to take it all in, it was Lawton.

She said she "still cannot process" the past two weeks which has seen her take a step back from her role as a one-to-one coach as she adapts to the full-time football lifestyle.

She hopes it's something she'll pick up again but for now, her full focus is on the football, which is "nice".

For a player "who needs to put in big performances to have that confidence," the upcoming group stage games she helped her side earn will only present more opportunities for those.

A historic night in Scottish women's football and an unforgettable evening for Celtic at that, as goals from summer arrivals Emma Lawton and Shannon McGregor secured the club's spot in the Champions League group stage for the first time.

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Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku is "living her dream" as her side qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time.

The SWPL holders defeated Ukrainian champions Vorskla Poltava 3-0 on aggregate to become the first Scottish side to qualify for the competition's group phase since its inception in 2020-21.

"I told the girls that I am living my dream together with them," Sadiku enthused after the second leg victory.

"I don't think there is a better achievement than that. It sums up what we have been doing so far.

"We are the in the top 16 teams [in Europe]. We done it for the first time ever. I'm already thinking about our game on Sunday and Rangers next Thursday. I'll think about it when the draw happens tomorrow.

"I don't think I can explain the excitement that is in that locker room right now. For me, we need to be confident because we achieved something that nobody in Scotland has been doing before.

"They are living their dream and will play with the top players in Europe and that is what we want to do."

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Women's Champions League qualification would only enhance the feelgood factor at Celtic, says men's captain Callum McGregor.

The SWPL champions are aiming to become the first Scottish team to qualify for the group stage of the competition on Thursday when they host Vorskla Poltava in the second leg of their second-round qualifier.

Elena Sadiku's side took a significant step towards achieving the feat in Sunday's first leg by winning 1-0.

The return match in Airdrie, kicking off at 19:15 BST, will be live on BBC Alba.

"They have a huge chance," McGregor said. "I know they are all looking forward to that chance. Here's hoping they can do it.

"It would continue to add [to the feelgood factor]. Everyone who's here, the expectation is to be playing elite level football in elite level competitions.

"Of course the Champions League is that, but it's very, very difficult to get there.

"They've done great, it's now just about trying to make that last step. There's no reason why they can't do it. Everyone's got full faith in them."

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Elena Sadiku has challenged Celtic to put themselves "on the map" by qualifying for the group stage of the Women's Champions League for the first time.

The Scottish champions will make it through as long as they can protect a 1-0 lead in the second leg of their second-round tie against Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in Airdrie on Thursday.

Sadiku was appointed Celtic boss in January and led them to their first SWPL title last term, and the Swede is determined to take another significant step.

"It would mean a lot, we would write history again and that's what we want to do," said Sadiku.

"I've said from the start that I want to make sure we put Celtic on the map and if we get to the group stage, that's exactly what we're going to do.

"We won the title last season so we're at the start of something new, something good, something big. For me, it's been important to build the foundation.

"I just hope the players feel like they are living the dream because getting into the group stage would mean we are one of the top 16 teams in Europe.

"That would be a massive thing. I get goosebumps just thinking about it."

Natalie Ross, 35, has been at Celtic since 2016 and the midfielder is relishing Thursday's match.

"There's a lot of excitement because we know what's at stake," she said.

"I think we can take a lot of confidence from Sunday's game, I'd say it was one of our best performances. But we can't underestimate them because they are a very good team.

"It's hard not to get too ahead of ourselves but if we get there it would be an unbelievable achievement."

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Celtic will have "too much" for Vorskla Poltava in the second-leg of their second round Champions League qualifying match, says former Scotland captain Gemma Fay, as the SWPL champions eye becoming the first Scottish team to qualify for the group stage.

Elena Sadiku's side took a significant step towards achieving the feat in Sunday's first leg against the Ukrainian champions, where they were 1-0 winners.

Celtic host again on Thursday evening in Airdrie, with kick-off 19:15 BST live on BBC Alba, in the knowledge a clean sheet will send them among Europe's elite.

The Glasgow side defeated Finnish outfit KuPS and Lithuanian side Gintra in the first round of qualifying, after entering the champions path following last season's dramatic title win.

Sadiku's team clinched their first SWPL title with a 90th-minute winner against Hibernian, a success driven by the heartache they endured the previous term.

Under Fran Alonso, they were seconds away from celebrating before news across the city of Glasgow City's triumph reached them.

Then, this time last season, they were knocked out of the Champions League in a penalty shootout against Valerenga.

But it is such heartache which former Scotland captain Gemma Fay believes will stand them in good stead for Thursday's crucial second leg.

"They've lost with the last kick of the game, they've lost on a penalty shootout, they've been in these moments and had that experience," Fay said on the Behind the Goals podcast.

"I think they've got enough players who understand what pressure is and how to achieve under it.

"I think this is a winnable tie, but I think there's some caution needed out there," she added.

Winnable it is, particularly given Celtic's strength in depth.

For instance, Saoirse Noonan, who netted a hat-trick against KuPS and again last week against Montrose, remained on the bench in the first leg.

"I think they have opportunities to bring players on that can change a game to either shore it up or to chase it if they need to, so I just think they've probably got a bit too much."