1974-09-18: Celtic 1-1 Olympiakos, European Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 19741975 | 1974-1975 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic's first European tie against Greek opposition.
  • There were no casualties of the Rangers game at the previous weekend other than pride. Deans and Bone were included in the squad for the game who trained at Seamills as normal. There was much talk of Deans heading out of Celtic Park with Fulham said to have watched him play for the Reserves. No team was announced before the game.
  • Viera sent off for Olympiakos.
  • Stand was all ticket only.
  • During the week it was announced that George Connelly was quitting football. Connelly said that he was sick and tired of it all and was quite prepared to walk away from a lucrative career doing something he was good at to do anything else.
    • "It's not playing football, it's the limelight, the star treatment which has made me sick and tired of the whole thing. Obviously my family are upset but it is my decision. They don't have to go through it every week. Everyone seems to think a footballer's life is a bed of roses. It's not. I am not running away from anything. I have nothing to hide from."

Prime Minister Harold Wilson called a snap General Election for the 10th October.

1974 Celtic v Olympiakos

Review

A night of frustration for Celtic. Dalglish hit the post in the 17th minute and Hood was inches wide with a shot when clear on goal. Those misses were costly.

In 35 minutes the Uruguayan international Viera scored an excellent goal after he turned McNeill and shot home. The entire Greek bench then ran on to the field in joy as police ushered them back off the park.

Viera was sent off for a second booking in 80 minutes and shortly after Wilson equalised with a volley after Lennox had headed down a deep McGrain cross. However it was too late to muster a fight back against well organised opposition.

Stein did not bring Deans on which was a surprise to the fans who chanted for his arrival. Hay's drive and determination was badly missed during the game and George Connelly's recent walk out had given Stein more problems.

The fans were despondent at time up and the feeling was that Celtic are not the European power they once were.
There was a deep sense of a diminishing team and one from which the crown had slipped.

Teams

Celtic:
Connaghan, McGrain, Brogan (Lennox 65), Murray, McNeill, McCluskey, Johnstone, Hood, Dalglish, Callaghan, Wilson Substitutes: Deans, Hunter, MacDonald, McNamara
Scorer: Wilson (81)

Olympiakos:
Kelesidis, Kyrastas, Aggelis, Sidkos, Glezos, Perssidis, Losanda, Viera, Kritikopoulos, Delikaris, Stavropoulos
Scorer: Viera (36)

Referee: V. Loraux (Belgium)
Attendance:- 40,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Articles

Evening Times 19th September 1974

shug sludden

Celtic v Olympiakos, European Cup, 18/9/74