Ferencvaros v Celtic – team news, KO time and where to watch

Celtic face Ferencvaros tonight in the crucial Europa League fixture. The Celts won the reverse fixture at Celtic Park two weeks ago thanks to goals from Kyogo and David Turnbull; however, with just three points separating the sides, Ange Postecoglou will know that his team need to come away with something today to make sure of that the hopes of football after Christmas are kept in our hands.

Team News

The Celts are without Carl Starfelt and Tom Rogic, two players who would’ve been expected to start. Rogic, hamstring, pulled up in the win over Hibs before Starfelt injured his hamstring in the draw with Livi.

Disappointingly, Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers appeared to be striking up a formidable partnership at the back but this means that the manager will need to bring someone else in to the team with Nir Bitton, Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales all vying for a game in Hungary. The game will likely be too soon for Christopher Jullien.

Rogic’s position is more troublesome to replace. There’s no one that plays like him in the Celtic team. David Turnbull and captain Callum McGregor will start but it’s a question then of who they start with. Nir Bitton and James McCarthy may be an option for a defensive midfielder but the manager may fancy bringing Jota into the free role in the midfield, freeing up a space for another winger. It’ll likely be Bitton that continues in the starting XI.

In attack, the manager needs to balance his starting team and his bench. Abada, Forrest and Johnston will all be keen on playing on the opposite side as Jota as will Kyogo and Giakoumakis through the middle but Ange will know that he needs to give his team enough cover in defence and the midfield and not simply overload with attackers.

Predicted XI: Hart; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Juranovic; Bitton, McGregor, Turnbull; Jota, Kyogo, Abada.

Kick Off Time

The game kicks off at 8pm (Celtic Park time).

Where to watch?

The game will be shown on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 7:45pm.

Despite the fans that have travelled to Budapest, there will be no away end for the Celtic support meaning they’ll need to watch it on TV like the rest of us.