Stern test for Slovan Bratislava, but they have two Manchester City insiders
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Slovan Bratislava's Vladimir Weiss (left) fends off Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn during the Slovak team's maiden Champions League proper match.
PHOTO: AFP
BRATISLAVA – Slovan Bratislava’s debut in the Champions League proper on Sept 18 was a chastening experience, with the Slovakian side getting hammered 5-1 by Celtic.
Things will get a lot harder for Vladimir Weiss Sr’s side on Oct 1, when they host 2022-23 winners Manchester City at Tehelne Pole Stadium.
To make things even trickier, Pep Guardiola’s team will be keen to get their first win in this new expanded league format of the competition, having been held to a 0-0 draw by Inter Milan in their opener.
However, they do have some insider knowledge of the Manchester club, with captain Vladimir Weiss Jr – son of the coach – and Robert Mak both former City youth players.
The pair were both members of the Citizens’ FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2008, alongside Kieran Trippier and Daniel Sturridge – who both later played for England.
While Mak, 33, did not make an appearance for City, Weiss Jr, 34, played a handful of times for the club and was even described by then manager Mark Hughes to have the potential to be a “top Premier League player”.
While that never panned out, the duo will be hoping to remind City fans of their existence, or at least hopefully help Bratislava to a better second outing.
Meanwhile, fellow serial Champions League underdogs Celtic will face their toughest test this term as they travel to the Westfalenstadion to face last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund.
Brendan Rodgers’ men sit second in the table of the new-look format – behind only Bayern Munich – and have a 100 per cent record in all competitions this season, plundering 33 goals across eight consecutive victories.
Dortmund also made a winning Champions League start, thanks to three late goals, to beat Club Brugge 3-0.
“We know we can go there with real confidence,” said Rodgers of the trip to Germany, despite being heavy underdogs.
“It’s a dream and they can live it. We’re going to a great stadium and we’re going to go there to show all the qualities that will hopefully give us an opportunity to get the result.”
Celtic captain Callum McGregor added: “There’s no reason why we can’t go and see where our football is at, compared to these teams.”
The last time Celtic made it past the group stage was in 2013, but Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin warned that the Scottish side should not be underestimated.
“We’re talking about a team that hasn’t lost a lot of games, that hasn’t conceded in their own league, that was very dominant in their first Champions League game,” Sahin told a press conference.
“I’m looking forward to it and to call them outsiders, that would be unfair to Celtic. What can I say about Celtic, a prestigious club with amazing talent in the club, a fantastic coach?”
Former Real Madrid and Turkey midfielder Sahin knows all about Celtic’s manager, after his time under Rodgers as a player when he had a loan spell at Liverpool in 2012. AFP, REUTERS
