Ahead of the huge Champions League clash on Tuesday night, RB Leipzig were beaten by Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Saturday evening at the Westflanstadion…
Fun watching Celtic says Leipzig boss
Celtic know a thing or two about taking a sore one in Dortmund, and the Hoops opponents tomorrow night narrowly lost to Nuri Sahin’s side in a close encounter over the weekend. Marco Rose’s RB Leipzig still remain second in the Bundesliga, three points behind league leaders Bayern Munich who are on 23 points.
It was RB Leipzig’s first defeat of the season in the Bundesliga, and although the Germans have been in glittering form domestically, adapting on the European stage has been a struggle this season.
Fixtures shafted RB Leipzig
They come to Celtic Park tomorrow night having to win. In all fairness, UEFA’s new look Champions League format shafted RB Leipzig with a harsh set of fixtures.
Sitting on zero points from three games, Leipzig were beaten at the Wanda Metrapolitano versus Atletico Madrid 2-1 in their opening match of the campaign. Rose’s side then succumbed to a 3-2 loss at home to Juventus on matchday two despite playing with a man advantage for majority of the second half. Notwithstanding a spirited performance against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, they took nothing from their Champions League outing two weeks ago, with Darwin Nunez’s strike in the first half being the solitary goal in the game.
Concerningly for Marco Rose, a trip to the San Siro to face Italian champions Inter Milan follows after their trip to Glasgow. Matchday six is also not kind either as Unai Emery’s Aston Villa travel to West Saxony in early December.
Celtic have had a decent start
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers’ Celts sit 11 places above their opposition ahead of tomorrow’s clash. Accumulating four points from three games has saw the Hoops get off to a flyer in Europe’s elite club competition. Their point in Bergamo versus Atalanta a fortnight ago will give the group of players a huge sense of belief and optimism heading into Leipzig.
Could ten points be enough?
All Celtic need is two victories from five to seal a place in the play-off round. 10 points should be enough to reach the top 24, and with three of the Hoops next four at Paradise, going beyond the 10 points target is not an unrealistic prospect but at this level it is still challenging.
Celtic Park will be rocking tomorrow evening. A proper European night under the lights awaits, and confidence is high amongst both sets of players. Gaining any points would be a cracking outcome for Brendan Rodgers who will be aiming to replicate a similar result to the one when these two sides met when the Irishman was manager during his first spell back in 2018.
Conor Spence
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The biggest challenge within football, is always the next one that you face?
Especially at a club like ourselves, where the demands remain so high?
We are currently in a very decent position, regarding the league phase at present?
Yet this week fixtures, should give a far better indication, as to just how many points will be needed to get into the knockout phase?
Get the victory tomorrow night, and we can start looking upwards, moreso than over our shoulders, with increased pressure upon ourselves with a loss?
Will have to be very good with and without the football tomorrow night, to get the desired result for ourselves?
But confidence and belief are huge within our team again, so couldn’t really be in a better position, heading into the game tomorrow night?
Yet the performance has to be delivered all the same, and Leipzig are no mugs by any means either?
Last thing we need is a poor start tomorrow, as we did in dortmund?
Regardless, it will possibly mean a full 90 minute performance required to get ourselves a favourable result?
Our support will have a crucial role to play also, with providing the extra energy levels to our players?
One thing that is certain, is our support will provide that to our players, as they always do, and none more so than on a CL night?
Really looking forward to the match, and still believe that we can earn a very hard fought victory also imo?