Europa League early Thursday evening football failed to enthral | OneFootball

Early evening Thursday night football at Celtic Park just isn’t the same. Aside from the disappointing result, the Europa League is clearly something of a damp squib at Paradise and probably elsewhere…

View from the Jock Stein stand, Celtic v Sporting Braga. 2 October 2025. Photo The Celtic Star

Due to my work being in the vicinity of Celtic Park, I arrived early for a pleasant change and was in the ground sat on my seat a full 45 minutes before kick off. It’s got to be said that the Europa league just isn’t the same as the Champions League, which was pretty much evident in the lack of excitement in the pre-match build up.

That strange feeling that hits your gut before big games as your excitement meets the nerves head on just wasn’t present, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone judging by the rest of the crowd that turned up.

The Europa League anthem just isn’t a patch on the world famous Champions League tune, and that deafening roar that usually sends a tingle down the supporters and players alike just wasn’t there. Even the club seemed to be affected by the overall malaise, failing to play ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ probably thinking that would be another damp squib.

View from the Jock Stein stand, Celtic v Sporting Braga. 2 October 2025. Photo The Celtic Star

Even when the action started the crowd was pretty flat, and you wouldn’t have guessed that the planned 29 minute silence had been scrapped. many some supporters didn’t get the memo.

The result of course didn’t help matters, but even a victory wouldn’t have changed my feelings on the matter. Don’t get me wrong, I want the team to do well in this tournament, but early Thursday night football at Celtic Park just doesn’t do it for me.

So yes, the Europa League is very much a damp squib but we’ll have to make the best of it and it’s now an uphill battle. The next match is also at Celtic Park against on Thursday 23 October against Austrian side Sturm Graz and they’ll be looking for a Glasgow double after taking three points off theRangers last night.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel fails to stop a shot from distance Ricardo Horta of SC Braga who scores to give Braga a 0-1 lead. Celtic v Braga, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Celtic Park, 02 October 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

Celtic has two Scottish Premiership matches before that with an international break sandwiched between our game this Sunday against Motherwell at Celtic Park and our trip to the City of Discovery on Sunday 19 October to play Dundee at Dens Park.

Hopefully we’ll see some Celtic goals and momentum in these two ‘warm-up’ matches where we need six points because we’ve already fallen behind Hearts in the league. Bet their supporters are becoming increasing confident after watching both Glasgow sides lose last night!  It’s the that kills them, that and Albert Kidd.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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