Celtic face Slovan Bratislava in their UEFA Champions League opener tomorrow evening. The Scottish Champions face up against the visitors, having previously met in the 1963-64 Cup Winners Cup – with Celtic winning both legs 1-0.
Morning all, match day for Celtic and it’s going to be a noisy night at Paradise. The Hoops played Slovan 60 years ago and won both legs of the tie 1-0. It’ll be a tough tie but I’m quietly confident the team can prevail tonight. (Pathe News) pic.twitter.com/jwVUbvVPv4
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) September 18, 2024
Bratislava are playing in their first UEFA Champions League while Celtic are chasing their first win in an opening game, having drawn twice and lost ten games. Brendan and his team will be desperate to continue their fine start to the season with three points in Europe’s premier club competition.
Team News
Celtic go into the game with no fresh injury concerns from the weekend’s win over Hearts. The Celts had to dig deep to get over the line against a robust Hearts defence but will need to be clinical tomorrow evening.
Brendan will have to assess whether to bring Paulo Bernardo in from the start or to continue with new signing Arne Engels, who was the Man of the Match on Saturday.
Kasper Schmeichel will start in goals as he looks to continue his excellent start to his time with the club.
It is expected that Brendan Rodgers will continue with the preferred back four of Greg Taylor, Liam Scales, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston. Auston Trusty will look to earn his place in the team in due course but you would imagine that the manager would continue with Scales in beside Carter-Vickers.
In midfield, Callum McGregor will skipper the side in the central trio with Arne Engels and Reo Hatate likely to continue. Expect Kyogo to start through the middle with Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kühn on the wings.
Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Taylor, Scales, Carter-Vickers, Johnston; McGregor, Engels, Hatate; Maeda, Kyogo, Kühn.
Manager’s View
Players View
Players View – Paulo Bernardo and Kyogo
Match Officials
UEFA have confirmed the appointment of Dutch referee Danny Makkelie with compatriots Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries assisting. Marc Nagtegaal will be operating as the Fourth Official.
The VAR team consists of Robin Dieperink with the Dutchman assisted by Carlos del Cerro Grande, from Spain.
Kick Off Time
The game kicks off at 8pm (Celtic Park Time).
Where to Watch
Celtic Park is the place to be for the Celtic support this evening but if you haven’t got a ticket that Celtic’s game against Slovan Bratislava will be shown on TNT Sports 2 with coverage from Paradise beginning at 7:15pm.
Celtic v Slovan Bratislava – Matchday Programme
Would be expecting the same starting 11 myself, and a very welcome change to be going into a CL match, without any injury issues also?
Hopefully we play with the high tempo and intensity, that suits ourselves far better, as an approach to be taken from ourselves?
Certainly would bring our support into the game moreso, with the noise levels getting increased during the whole game, instead of any nervousness allowed to creep into the stadium?
But with our all round confidence so high at present, then that shouldn’t become a factor imo?
A winning start to a CL campaign is well overdue, and think we will change that tomorrow night, as a win of any description will be acceptable all the same, and confident that our team will continue to keep delivering the right results for ourselves imo?
Bernardo in for hiata might be the change Celtic are up against teams parking the bus i don’t think hiata is got the patience for it I’m sure he is disappointed he didn’t get a transfer to the epl does Rodgers see him as a team player true enough gave up a penalty not many players would do that i don’t like it it puts pressure on penalty taker and hopefully we get one on Wednesday then pressure is on no matter who takes it bernardo will start it’s close but bernardo his height and defencive play might do it but both will play McGowan will if we are leading and tight