CELTS ON TOUR, SEVILLE BOUND AGAIN!

Celtic won through to the Europa League group stages with a 3-2 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands last night.

The Bhoys got off to a flier when, Kyogo, who else, pounced after just 3 minutes to give Celtic a 3-0 cushion overall. But that comfort was short lived after two quickfire blunders invited an insane amount of pressure onto the side and set the tone for a nervy night of football.

A Joe Hart error allowed AZ's Zakaria Aboukhlal in to score, tying the match at 1-1 on the night, which followed by an inexplicable show of low self confidence by former Rubin Khazan defender Carl Starfelt, when he clumsily sliced a clearance and sent the ball by his own keeper to give the Dutch a 2-1 lead on the night.

These blunders looked to have the effect of transmitting vulnerability and a lack of surety through the young Celtic defence, which in turn ate through the midfield and onto the frontline. And it took Celtic to the second half before the likes of young Anthony Ralston and Ryan Christie started playing with a wee bit more belief, a lá the 1st leg in the East End.

Make no mistake, this young and relatively inexperienced Celtic side rode their luck, but showed just enough grit and industry to hold on and furnish themselves with a group stage placement in this year's Europa League, and with it, some nice matches against decent opposition to look forward to over the next few months.

The UEFA draw in Istanbul this afternoon sees Celtic joined in Group G by German cracks Bayer Leverkusen, La Liga side Real Betis and old foes Ferencvaros of Hungary, meaning former Celtic favourite Jeremie Frimpong will be back at Celtic Park with Leverkusen and Celtic fans will enjoy a return trip to Seville, where some will have some fond memories of the welcome they received by the locals of Andalucia in the UEFA Cup Final of 2003.

If you know your history

Founded in 1907, the green and white colour palette of Real Betis was inspired by Glasgow Celtic; Betis used to play in blue and white but one of the founders – Manuel Asensio – forged relationships in Scotland and had fallen in love with Celtic Football Club and the progressive and inclusive nature of the club's support. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Celtic fans received a warm welcome by locals in Seville when playing in the UEFA Cup Final there in 2003 and Celtic & Betis fans are predicted to enjoy a good rapport during the group stages of this season's tourney. Hopefully our sense of charity doesn't extend to their players on the night.