Banik Ostrava are expecting a strong crowd for Wednesday night’s clash at home to Celtic, with captain Jan Lastuvka predicting it will be “a real feast” for those in attendance.
Celtic have been invited by the Czech club as part of their centenary celebrations and ticket sales have been strong for the encounter.
The fixture is due to be played at the 15,000 Mestsky Stadion and it could be closer to capacity when the Bhoys visit than you might have assumed.
Denik.cz reports 10,000 tickets had been announced as sold in June and that the ultras section behind one of the goals has been sold out for over a month.
Banik goalkeeper and captain Lastuvka is relishing the occasion, telling Denik: “It looks good. It is clear it will be played in a great atmosphere and that it will be a real feast.
“We are all looking forward to it and our great fans have a lot to look forward to as well.”
Matej Sturala, director of 100th year celebrations had previously celebrated Celtic’s involvement, stating: “Why Celtic? It is a famous Scottish club, literally the embodiment of football tradition, after all it is one of the oldest clubs in the world.”
It sounds like it will be another good test for Ange Postecoglou’s Bhoys so early in pre-season with Rapid Vienna also proving to be a tough encounter yesterday.
Around 9,000 fans turned out for that one, but it was keenly contested, physical and didn’t feel like a friendly. Postecoglou cited that as a big positive to take away from the fixture.
Hopefully, he’ll be similarly pleased after playing against a proud Banik team that will be keen to celebrate their 100th birthday in the correct manner.
Pre-season matches are often considered meaningless, but if they are played in exciting match conditions, it can only help Celtic ramp up in intensity ahead of the competitive action.
In other news, Confirmed: Ismaila Soro leaves Celtic.
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