Champions League Play-offs: Kazakh team sacrifice sheep as per ritual ahead of Celtic tie

Celtic players celebrating a goal in Champions League match against Spartak Moscow

Shakhter Karagandy takes on Celtic in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at the Astana Arena on Tuesday night, on back of an odd ritual which they hope will help them defeat their much fancied opponents.

The Kazakhstan club have once again killed a sheep, so as to bring them luck before the crucial tie. This sacrificing of sheep is a common practice they have used throughout their matches in the competition.

The sacrifice took place at the stadium before the players were put in their stride but the Shakhter coach Viktor Kumykov tried to play it down.

According to Eurosport, He said: “This is a play-off round and we decided not to break this tradition

“It is quite important for us. I would not like to disclose in detail.”

For this European tie Kazakh club have shifted the match to Astana, 114 miles away from their own ground, with an aim of becoming the first club from Kazakhstan to reach the Champions League group stage.

Kumykov believes everyone in the country will put aside their loyalties to cheer for his side in what has turned into a national event.

“We believe the supporters are very important in this game,” said the Russian.

“We think there will be many supporters there, not only from Karaganda (the main city in Karagandy province) and Astana but from other parts of the country and we believe and hope the whole nation will be behind us.”

“This game is going to be very difficult for us,” he said. “We are newcomers to the Champions League, Celtic is a very experienced club and are former champions of Europe.

“We are students and they are teachers. Our main task is to obtain the experience of playing in the Champions League and I am hoping we will be able to show our best game.

“We recognise that Celtic are more experienced and stronger than us. But football is illogical and you cannot be sure about anything.

“In football, the strongest side does not always win and there are many examples of that, even in the Champions League. We have watched all their European games, the game against Aberdeen and the friendly against Liverpool.

“They are a very good side, with very good players. Celtic also play aggressively so we expect it to be a very tough game.”

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Neil Lenon replied diplomatically when asked about this odd ritual claiming they have to respect other’s culture. He said: “You have to respect that (Sheep sacrifice).

“It is a different culture. Players have their own superstitions.

“We have a very diverse group of players from different parts of the world, different religions and you respect that.

“They have their own individual way of preparing for a game.

“The only thing we do collectively is obviously the very famous huddle before every game.”