Mjallby expects another bruising Juve battle for Celtic
Former Celtic favourite and Neil Lennon’s current number two, Johan Mjallby has told Sky Sports that the SPL champions have to be tougher in Turin, ahead of their Champions League second leg with Juventus.
The current Scottish league leaders face a forlorn task to reach the last eight, after losing the first leg at Parkhead three weeks ago 3-0.
The aftermath of that match was dominated by Juve’s aggressive marking tactics, with Swiss defender Stephan Lichsteiner a regular offender.
The officials on the night at Celtic Park allowed most of it to go unpunished, angering Lennon, the Bhoys players and supporters.
Mjallby is convinced it will be a similar story on Wednesday, but wants the officials to get tougher this time around.
The Swede said: “We watched the previous game they played, against Napoli away (on Friday), and I have to say they did the same thing again.
“They were marking their opponents very, very roughly and hard when it comes to corner kicks and wide free-kicks against. We just have to be ready for it and hopefully the referee is very strong if it happens again.
“They should always be strong, that’s their job. If the referee thinks it’s a penalty and if it’s a penalty by the rulebook then it should be awarded a penalty.”
Turkish referee Firat Aydinus has been given the unenviable task of controlling the game at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday.
He was in charge of Arsenal’s home victory against Montpellier and PSG’s away success in Dinamo Zagreb earlier on this season in the group stages.
See what the expert tipsters at OLBG are tipping on Juventus v Celtic
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