Summary

  • Deac heads Cluj into lead but Forrest levels and Edouard puts Celtic in front

  • Omrani nets penalty after Brown handball but Christie restores lead

  • However Omrani scores his second and Tucudean nets in stoppage-time

  • Sides drew 1-1 in Romania last week

  • Celtic now play Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova or AIK of Sweden in Europa League play-off round

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  1. Is James Forrest Celtic's key player?published at 19:34 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    James ForrestImage source, BBc

    Celtic have several experienced continental campaigners, but James Forrest is frequently their go-to man.

    The 28-year-old forward is entering his tenth season in European football at the club, and managed two goals and seven assists in last year's tournament.

  2. Cluj change all 11 players from domestic actionpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    It's a whopping 11 changes from Cluj boss Dan Petrescu - none of the players who started against Hermmanstadt at the weekend are in the XI tonight.

    Cluj: Arlauskis, Susic, De Souza, Burca, Paulino, Deac, Aurelio, Bordeianu, Djokovic, Omrani, Rondon.

    Substitutes: Vatca, Sylla, Alexandru, Tucudean, Muresan, Peteleu, Cestor.

    Cluj XIImage source, BBC Sport
  3. Lennon v Rodgers in Europe - how do the bosses stack up?published at 19:29 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    Celtic managers in EuropImage source, BBC Sport

    Celtic managers are expected to sweep all before them domestically, and come under serious pressure on how their teams fare in Europe.

    Neil Lennon famously led Celtic to victory over Barcelona and the Champions League knock-out stage in his first stint in charge, something predecessor Brendan Rodgers could not manage.

    While Rodgers pips Lennon when it comes to points per game won in the Europa League and qualifiers, Lennon has a better record in the top-tier tournament.

  4. 'Danger all over the place' for Clujpublished at 19:24 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    Cluj sit at the summit of the Romanian top flight with four wins and a draw from five games so far this term.

    Despite his side's domestic form, Cluj boss Dan Petrescu played down their chances ahead of last week's first leg, and is doing the same again for the return fixture, showering Neil Lennon's team with praise.

    "The danger is coming all over the place," he said. "Kristoffer Ajer, Ryan Christie for sure can go to another level. Odsonne Edouard as well. They have good players on the wing. Left and right.

    "We have to play a fantastic game, have a lot of luck.

    "It's a great challenge for us. I've done it many times as a coach - I've won against bigger clubs - and I'd like the same."

    Dan PetrescuImage source, SNS
  5. Are the Old Firm already pulling away?published at 19:21 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    Domestically, Celtic have been in devastating form so far, battering a combined 12 goals past St Johnstone and Motherwell in their first two Premiership games.

    Rangers, too, have started with back-to-back wins, a late victory at Kilmarnock then a 6-1 shellacking of 10-man Hibernian.

    It's very early days, but already, the Old Firm are the only sides with perfect records intact.

    Can the rest of the league muster a challenge against the top two or, even at this early stage, are the Glasgow giants capable of pulling away from the rest? Here's what the numbers say.

    Alfredo Morelos and Leigh GriffithsImage source, SNS
  6. Looks like McGregor at left-backpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    Our chief sports writer Tom English is at Celtic Park tonight and reckons Callum McGregor will indeed be deployed at left-back. Summer signing Boli Bolingoli hasn't looked too clever defensively since joining the club, with Neil Lennon saying this week the Belgian is "still trying to find his feet".

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  7. 'Whirlwind' in attendancepublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

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  8. What happened last week?published at 19:09 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    It was a pretty nervy affair for the Scottish champions in Romania, who fell behind to Mario Rondon's first-half strike.

    As he has done so often, though, James Forrest proved Celtic's man for the big occasions, cancelling out the Cluj goal just nine minutes later with a precious away strike.

    James Forest scores for CelticImage source, SNS
  9. No recognised left-back for much-changed Celticpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    It's a much-changed Celtic XI from Saturday's 5-2 shellacking of Motherwell.

    With no recognised left-back in the starting line-up, it looks like Neil Lennon has deployed Callum McGregor on the left side of defence.

    Either that, or he's playing a back-three of Hatem Elhamed, Jozo Simonuvic and Kristoffer Ajer, with wing-backs in the shape of McGregor or Mikey Johnston and James Forrest.

    We'll get some definitive answers on that shortly.

    Meantime, here are the five changes to the XI: Nir Bitton, Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli, Lewis Morgan and Leigh Griffiths all drop out.

    In come Simunovic, Elhamed, Johnston, Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard.

  10. Here's the Celtic line-uppublished at 19:04 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    Celtic: Bain, Elhamed, Simunovic, Ajer, McGregor, Forrest, Brown, Ntcham, Christie, Johnston, Edouard.

    Substitutes: Gordon, Jullien, Bitton, Griffiths, Bayo, Morgan, Bolingoli.

    Celtic XIImage source, BBC Sport
  11. Can Celtic reach the promised land?published at 18:58 British Summer Time 13 August 2019

    Celtic v Cluj (19:45)

    Celtic's quest for the riches and prestige of the Champions League continues tonight with the visit of Cluj. Sarajevo and Nomme Kalju have been vanquished, but the Romanians are an altogether trickier prospect.

    The tie is finely poised at 1-1 from the first leg, Cluj causing Celtic problems down their left flank and frequently calling Scott Bain into action.

    Still, with home advantage, and an away goal already in the bag, Neil Lennon's men are the clear favourites.

    A two-legged bout against Slavia Prague is the prize for tonight's victor - the final hurdle to the promised land of the group stage.

    Neil LennonImage source, SNS