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Balde seeks to sign off in style

Defender Bobo Balde is keen for Celtic FC can to their first UEFA Champions League away win in 12 attempts at FC København in order to finish top of Group F.

Celtic FC defender Bobo Balde has vowed to end his club's dismal away record in the UEFA Champions League by recording their first victory on the road against FC København and finishing top of Group F in the process.

Celtic fortress
While Celtic Park has been a fortress with just one defeat in twelve UEFA Champions League fixtures, Celtic have still to notch up a win or even a clean sheet on their travels, something that Balde is intent on rectifying at the Parken Stadium on Wednesday night. "It would be a special moment to go through as group winners and that will be our target in Denmark," Balde told uefa.com. "It would be the biggest thing we have achieved in the UEFA Champions League in my time at the club."

Sole survivors
Along with captain Neil Lennon, the 30-year-old Guinean centre-back is the only survivor from the Martin O'Neill era when Celtic contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in three attempts to reach the knockout stage. In their first campaign in season 2001/02 Celtic failed to progress despite a heroic 4-3 win against Juventus in their final group match which gave them nine points and two years later Balde conceded a late penalty against Olympique Lyonnais to ensure more Matchday 6 heartache.

Nine enough
"We've worked very hard towards this moment and players like Neil and myself have had many disappointments along the way," the centre-back added. "A few years ago we got nine points and still didn't go through. This time nine points was good enough. At last we have made it through and that's a nice feeling."

Stomach surgery
Surgery on a stomach muscle injury and the impressive form of Scottish international Gary Caldwell has kept Balde on the sidelines most of this season. The decisive 1-0 win against Manchester United FC on Matchday 5 was his first outing in this year's competition and having tasted the big time again, the giant defender is desperate to banish the memories of previous failures by getting the right result in the Danish capital.

Useful test
"We will have a hard game against København on Wednesday," said Balde. "They will be very physical and that will be good for me because I need this kind of game after being out so long. It would be a great achievement to win the group by getting our first away victory and I think we can do that in Copenhagen."

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