TipResumen

AEK ATHENS

After riding out an initial storm in Glasgow AEK Athens found themselves back in the First Leg of this Third Qualifying Round Champions League tie before having to hold on with ten men. The 1-1 draw at Celtic Park makes the Greek Champions favourites to make it through to the Play Off Round of the Champions League and one step away from reaching the Group Stage, but no one believes this tie is over before the Second Leg has been played. An away goal and avoiding defeat is always a very positive away performance in any European Knock Out tie, but AEK Athens haven't been all that convincing in home ties in recent seasons. The side have now won just 1 of their last 10 home European ties and they have drawn their last 4 in a row all in the Europa League. A clean sheet would be enough to move AEK Athens through to the next Round but they only kept 2 clean sheets in 6 home European games last season. AEK Athens are only playing their second game of the 2018/19 season with the domestic League not due to begin until the final Saturday in August. They have won 11 of their last 15 home games in all competitions with 3 of the 4 exceptions coming in the Europa League, while AEK Athens have lost just 1 of their last 22 home games. Kostas Galanopoulos is suspended having been sent off in Scotland last week.



CELTIC

There have been some rumours that Brendan Rodgers is far from impressed with the players that Celtic have missed out on in the transfer window which may have left them short for the crucial Champions League Qualifiers. The manager denied he is that frustrated, but Celtic are in a tough place to make it through to the Champions League Group Stage for a third consecutive season and suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership this weekend. That defeat will have been a blow for Celtic as they were looking for a confidence boost to take to the Greek capital on Tuesday in this vital Champions League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg. The 1-1 home draw in the First Leg was a real setback for Celtic, but the performance was decent enough and Celtic have won 3 of their last 5 away Champions League Qualifiers as well as winning 0-3 in Anderlecht in the Group Stage last season. Celtic were beaten 1-0 at Tynecastle this weekend and that means they have only won 6 of their last 12 games in all competitions going back to last season. They have won 3 of their last 7 away games in all competitions and Celtic have failed to score in 3 games in that run including the last 2 away games in Rosenborg and Hearts. Kristoffer Ajer is suspended, but Moussa Dembele could be a big return for Celtic who need a goal here.



HEAD TO HEAD

This is the first time AEK Athens have hosted Celtic in a competitive fixture.



PREDICTION

The First Leg of this tie looked to be going exactly the way Brendan Rodgers would have wanted with Celtic scoring early and dominating the game. However they were hit with a sucker punch before half time and Celtic could not break down a ten man AEK Athens team in the second half which means the tie is set at 1-1 going into the Second Leg. One of the big criticisms of Celtic in recent years is the poor results away from Celtic Park in the European ties they have played. However they have won 3 of their last 5 away Qualifiers under Brendan Rodgers and Celtic did manage to overcome Rosenborg twelve months ago after drawing the First Leg at home. This is a much stiffer test against the current Greek Champions, but Celtic may have a slight edge when it comes to fitness levels as AEK Athens won't begin their domestic season for another ten days. AEK Athens also have a pretty poor home record and they conceded at least twice in half of their 6 home European ties last season. However AEK Athens scored at least twice in half of those games too and I think the layers are underestimating the chance to see at least three goals here. I considered simply backing both teams to score with the 1-1 potential scoreline meaning the two teams could settle back and not take risks, but risks will have to be taken if one of the teams are trailing in this one. 4 of the 6 AEK Athens home European games ended with at least three goals shared out last season while Celtic had been involved in 6 straight away European games that featured at least three goals before the goalless draw in Rosenborg in the last Qualifying Round. I do have a slight concern for Celtic that they have not scored in their last couple of away games in all competitions, but they have to push for at least one here and I will back at least three goals to be shared out at a big price.