Hoops want repeat of Ronny Reykjavik romp to kick off

CELTIC are set for a rematch with KR Reykjavik when they kick off their Champions League qualifying bid.

Neil Lennon’s side will host the Icelanders in a winnertakes-all clash next Tuesday or Wednesday after being pulled out the hat together at yesterday’s draw in Nyon.

It’s a repeat of Ronny Deila’s dugout debut six years ago when the Hoops overcame Reykjavik 5-0 on aggregate thanks to a 1-0 win in Iceland followed by a comfortable 4-0 victory at Murrayfield.

Virgil van Dijk and Teemu Pukki both scored doubles in that second leg while Callum McGregor hit the only goal of a tight encounter away from home.

Crucially, as Lennon looks to guide his side into the lucrative group stage for the first time in three years, the qualifying rounds will all be single leg shoot-outs up until the play-offs next month.

And it all begins against Reykjavik in just over a week.

Celtic will be leaving nothing to chance despite being huge favourites for the tie.

The Icelanders have won their title 27 times – including the last season in which they finished a mammoth 14 points clear of Breidablik.

Their 2020 league campaign was delayed by Covid-19 and Runar Kristinsson’s side currently sit second, two points behind Valur with a game in hand, having won five, drawn two and lost one from eight games so far.

Further success came in June’s Icelandic Super Cup Final, in which they defeated Vikingar 1-0 thanks to a goal from Danish forward Kennie Chopart.

Former Lokeren and Lillestrom boss Kristinsson is in his second spell in charge of KR. He is one of the country’s most esteemed players, having won a record 104 caps.

One man who the Hoops will have to keep an eye on is Pablo Punyed. The Miami-born midfielder has been capped 24 times for El Salvador and is widely regarded as the man who makes the Icelanders tick.

Towering frontman Kristjan

Floki Finnbogason has recently signed from Norwegian’s IK Start and has been capped six times for Iceland.

But it’s an ageing team with many KR stars well into their thirties including winger Oskar Orn Hauksson, 35, who captains the side and has two caps for Iceland.

Midfielder Palmi Rafn Palmason, 35, has 18 caps and defender Arnor Sveinn Adalsteinsson, 34, has represented his country 12 times.

KR have never beaten Scottish opposition. They were Aberdeen’s first ever European opponents in 1967. The Dons won 10-0.

Reykjavik have also subsequently lost to Kilmarnock in 1999 before that Celtic defeat in 2014.