Celtic vs Ferencvarosi TC Predictions

• Celtic lost two of their four home games in last season’s Europa League, finishing nine places and four points behind these opponents in the league phase
• Ferencvaros have won ten and lost only one of their 15 games under Balazs Borbely
• The Hungarians hammered Trabzonspor 5-0 on aggregate in the Europa League play-off round

Bhoys need to bounce back

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill labelled Sunday’s embarrassing 3-0 Scottish League Cup defeat at rivals Rangers a “wake-up call” and he will expect that call to be answered in Thursday’s Europa League opener against Ferencvaros. 

The Bhoys’ last European outing was one to forget as they relinquished a three-goal, first-leg lead by getting hammered 5-1 at Lask, and there is no guarantee that this continental clash goes any better. 

Ferencvaros enjoyed a contrasting weekend, landing a momentum-boosting 7-0 cup victory, and while Celtic will provide more of a challenge than third-tier Hungarians Debreceni, it is not a challenge they will fear. 

Ferencvaros fancied to trouble hosts

Then managed by former Bhoys forward Robbie Keane, Ferencvaros lost just one of their eight league-phase games in last term’s Europa League, picking up some impressive results along the way. 

Wins over RB Salzburg, Genk, Ludogorets and especially Rangers were strong results while a 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce’s ferocious Istanbul base highlights an ability to hold their own on the road. 

Celtic’s confidence will have been knocked by their Ibrox demolition and Balazs Borbely’s Ferencvaros are too big a price to capitalise by enjoying a positive result in Glasgow.