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Champions League qualifiers: An in-depth look at Celtic's opponents Ferencvaros

The Hungarian side are managed by Sergei Rebrov.

Celtic host Ferencvaros in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The one-legged tie is the second of a potential four qualifying rounds Celtic will face to reach the group stages.

Here is the lowdown on their Hungarian opponents.

European pedigree

Mick Jones scores Leeds' winner against Ferencvaros
Mick Jones scores Leeds' winner against Ferencvaros (PA)

Like Celtic, Ferencvaros enjoyed their European peak in the 1960s and 1970s. The Budapest club won the Fairs Cup in 1965, beating Manchester United in the semi-finals and Juventus in the final. They lost to Leeds in the 1968 final and were European Cup Winners' Cup runners-up in 1975. But they have only reached the Champions League group stages once, in 1995-96, and last season was only their second time in the UEFA Cup/Europa League group stages. They only lost once in six matches but finished third behind Espanyol and Ludogorets. The Green Eagles' previous visit to Scotland in 2004 proved eventful – Hearts boss John Robertson kicked out at opposite number Csaba Laszlo – a future Jambos boss – after a 1-0 away win at Murrayfield.

Manager

Sergei Rebrov has enjoyed success as a player and manager
Sergei Rebrov has enjoyed success as a player and manager (PA)

Former Dinamo Kiev striker Sergei Rebrov was a key player for Ukraine and the highest goalscorer in his country's league but endured a difficult spell in England with Tottenham and West Ham. The 46-year-old continued his success with Dinamo Kiev as a manager, leading them to two titles and the knockout stages of the Champions League. He took over Ferencvaros two years ago and has led them to consecutive Hungarian titles for the first time since the mid-1990s.

Form

Ferencvaros opened their league campaign with a 1-1 derby draw against MTK on August 14. They then beat Swedish champions Djurgarden 2-0 at home to set up their trip to Glasgow and had a free weekend in the Hungarian championship to prepare.

Key player

Tokmac Nguen scored both goals in the first qualifying round, winning the ball before netting from long range for the opener and showing good pace and composure to finish the second. The 26-year-old, who also netted against MTK, is a particular danger cutting in from the left and using his right foot. The former Norway youth international, who was born in Kenya to South Sudanese refugee parents, was handed his first-team debut at the age of 17 for Stromgodset by future Celtic boss Ronny Deila.

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Faroe Island's Rene Joensen (R) and Solvi Vatnhamar (L) vies with Hungary's Adam Nagy (C) during the Euro 2016 Group F qualifying football match between Hungary and Faroe Islands at the Groupama Arena in Budapest, Hungary on October 8, 2015.
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
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1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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