Balde believes Hoops can net away goal

Bobo Balde admits Villarreal rank among the best sides he has played against during his time at Celtic, but he still believes the Hoops can progress in tonight’s UEFA Cup quarter-final tie.

Celtic travel to Spain with it all to do in the second leg, having only drawn 1-1 at Parkhead last week.

Villarreal looked a better side in Glasgow than their 10th place in La Liga would suggest and Celtic will have to do what no other side in the UEFA Cup has done this season – by scoring in the El Madrigal Stadium.

However, Balde is convinced Martin O’Neill’s Bhoys can grab the away goal they need to make it through to the last four.

He told the club’s official website, www.celticfc.net: “They know when they have to give the ball away and they know the right time to keep it and it makes it very difficult to defend against.

“They are a very good side but we are still confident because when we started to play at the level we know we can in the second half we created a lot of chances and I thought their keeper made some great saves.

“It is always bad news to have conceded a goal at home but we have to be confident because not only did we come back into the game, we started to show what we can do.

“We go into the game knowing that we have to score a goal and I think we can do that, although it will be tough.”

O’Neill is ready to take one of the biggest gambles of his career by picking Chris Sutton against Villarreal.

The striker caused great concern at the weekend by hobbling off after scoring two goals in Celtic’s Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Livingston when his long-standing groin problem flared up again.

But Sutton declared himself fit in the aftermath of that game and his manager is ready to take a risk on him in Spain tonight.

“He couldn’t train yesterday and I will leave that until the last possible minute,” said O’Neill.

“But I’m sure if Chris will want to deal himself in he will certainly start the game. If he wants to do that we will do that.

“It is hard to say at the minute what his chances are but he wants to try and that will be good enough for us if that’s what he wants to do.”