Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Celtic
Match Time & Date:
08/08/2018
02:45 PM
Prediction: 2-0
AEK Athens
Thanks to a goalless draw with Rosenborg at Lerkendal Stadion, Celtic booked their place in the Champions League third qualifying round. Brendan Rodgers is doing a great job with the Hoops, who are determined to take part in the group stages of the elite competition. It is well known that Celtic have turned their Celtic Park into a real fortess and given the number of high-profile players in Brendan Rodgers’ team, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the Scottish champions. AEK, on the other hand, did well to win the Greek Super League last season and they are surely brimming with confidence ahead of the trip to Glasgow. However, Celtic are a more experience side than AEK, which is the main reason why home win should be considered. You should bear in mind that the Hoops are eyeing their third consecutive win in the Champions League at home ground.
Highlighted Player (Scott Sinclair):
At the age of nine, Scott Sinclair joined Bristol Rovers youth school and seven years later he signed a deal with Chelsea. However, the winger played no more than five league games for Chelsea as he spent a big part of his career on loan at Plymouth, QPR, Charlton, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, WBA and Aston Villa. He played for Swansea City between 2010 and 2012, scoring 28 goals in 82 league appearances for the Welsh outfit.
On 19 May, 2015 Sinclair signed a permanent deal with Aston Villa, but he failed to impress in the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign. He scored only two goals in 21 league appearances for the team and the Villans eventually dropped to the Championship.
The Aston Villa winger, who is capable of playing on both sides of the field, has 7 caps for England U21 and it has to be noted that he made 4 appearances for Great Britain, scoring one goal for Team GB. Scott Sinclair was born in Bath, England on 25 March, 1989.
Highlighted Team (AEK Athens):
Established in 1924, AEK Athens are one of a number of Greek clubs based in Athens. The Enosis (Union) are well known for their passionate fans and Original 21 are considered the club’s main supporters’ group. AEK Athens play their home games in black shirts with yellow stripes and black shorts, while they often wear gray jerseys and yellow shorts when facing their rivals on the road.
Olympic Stadium in Athens is the club’s home ground and the venue can hold up to 69.618 people. AEK share rivalries with fellow capital clubs Panathinaikos and Olympiakos and the rivalry with Olympiakos was inflamed in 1996, when AEK former ace and then-coach joined the Thrylos. AEK have 12 Greek Super League trophies, but it has to be noted that they clinched their last domestic title back in 1994.
Speaking of the Greek Cup, the Enosis won their 15th trophy in the competition in 2016, with the team beating Olympiakos in the title game. In the 1966/1967 season AEK made it to the UEFA Cup semis, but Italian giants Juventus proved to be a big catch for the Greek side.
FC Cincinnati
New York City
Toronto FC
Columbus Crew
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
Seattle Sounders
Montreal CF
Los Angeles FC
FC Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy
Minnesota United
