Partizani Tirana are the sixth worst team in Champions League qualification, according to the UEFA co-efficient at least. The champions of Albania are unseeded for the first round of qualification and could be Celtic’s first competitive opponents next season.
Celtic have only ventured out to Albania to play a competitive match on one occasion. It was 1979 when they Hoops faced Partizani in the first round of the European Cup. We lost the first leg out in Albania but salvaged the tie at home, eventually winning 4-2 on aggregate.
40 years later and the gap between the sides is pretty similar. The Albanians, founded in 1946, have 16 league titles to their name. However, their latest triumph was their first in 26 years. It was won by 11 points from second placed Kukesi.
European pedigree
Partizani have only won two major trophies in the 21st century but they have been hanging around the top of the Albanian Superliga for some time. Next season will be their fifth successive campaign in Europe but their success has been limited.
Partizani have won just one of their last nine European ties – against Ferencvaros in 2016. They’ve been soundly beaten by the likes of Red Bull Salzburg and Maribor in recent seasons and have only managed one goal in their last eight European matches.
Like a lot of our potential opponents they would offer an unknown factor. However, Celtic would have little to fear from Partizani. Their stadium, the Selman Stermasi, isn’t the most hostile of grounds. It holds just over 9,000 fans at the best of times so the Hoops would have no worries about being intimidated.
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