Neil Lennon has taken note of one Champions League result to remind everyone that there are four contenders to qualify from Europa League Group E.
On Tuesday night Slavia Prague opened their Champions League campaign by drawing 1-1 in the San Siro against Inter Milan with that result having a direct form guide to the quality of the teams that Celtic will face over the coming months.
The quality and form of Rennes and Lazio can be speculated over but no-one at Celtic needs any reminders about Cluj who won’t just be making up the numbers.
After winning away to Maccabi Tel Aviv and Celtic the Romanian side lost 1-0 home and away to Slavia Prague with the Czech side showing their ability on Matchday One in the premier competition.
Asked who he considered to be the group favourites Lennon highlighted the threat from Romania telling The Sun:
Every team will take points off each other as it goes on. I think Lazio are a quality side, but I think we are a quality side too and so are Rennes.
I know Cluj have their own qualities. Yes, they lost to Slavia Prague, who got a great result in the San Siro the other night but in the away game against Prague they could easily have equalised.
Remember, Cluj put us out of the Champions League qualifiers. They cannot be discounted in this group. Cluj have a different way of playing that is maybe not easy on the eye, but it is effective, and they will maybe give someone a bloody nose along the way. Rennes are second in Ligue One, so their quality is obvious. I think you have got four really good teams.
Cluj host Lazio at the same time as Celtic kick off in Rennes tonight.
