Celtic v Club Brugge: Predicted XI as Brendan weighs up Idam and Bernardo calls

Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic team will be looking to make it four home Champions League wins in a row this evening against Club Brugge. The Belgian outfit arrive in Glasgow for Matchday Five of the UEFA Champions League. Celtic, who have seven points after four games, could take a step towards qualification for the next round with a win over Brugge.

Brendan has confirmed that his side have come through the win at Tynecastle without any injuries. The second half display against Hearts will have given the manager some selection headaches, especially because of the energy from Paulo Bernardo and the finishing from Adam Idah.

Experienced Danish Internationalist Kasper Schmeichel will start in goals. The 38-year-old played in the Belgian Pro League last year with Anderlecht and will know a thing or two about the visitors having made his Anderlecht debut in a 1-1 draw between the sides last year.

Brendan Rodgers
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during a press conference at Celtic Park on Tuesday November 26, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers will comprise the central pairing with Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston in the wide areas.

Despite Bernardo impressing at Tynecastle, it is expected that the manager will name an unchanged trio. Callum McGregor will skipper the team with Reo Hatate and Arne Engels in the centre of the pitch.

The wide attackers are a stick-on – Nicolas Kühn has been Celtic’s Player of the Year so far and he will start out right with Daizen Maeda starting on the left.

The manager will have to decide whether to go with Kyogo through the middle or to go with Adam Idah. The Irishman netted a brace in the closing stages of the win at Tynecastle after replacing his forward colleague from the bench. Idah’s profile is different to Kyogo and it may be a consideration to give Celtic ‘an out ball’ against the Belgians. However, you would expect that Kyogo would start given his movement with Idah coming on later in the game.

Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; McGregor, Engels, Hatate; Kühn, Kyogo, Maeda.

The game kicks off at 8pm (Celtic Park Time) and Team News is expected before 7pm.

About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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