Celtic face Lazio in the UEFA Champions League this evening. Brendan Rodgers’ side need to win if they are to keep their ambitions of playing European football beyond Christmas alive. When the teams met at the beginning of October, Celtic were the better team but found themselves on the wrong end of an injury time goal from Lazio’s Pedro to give Maurizio Sarri’s team all of the points.
Team News
Celtic go into the game with a few concerns on the front line. Daizen Maeda is injured as is Liel Abada, two of the three players likely to start. The other player that would make up the trio of most promising wide players, Luis Palma, is suspended after picking up a yellow card against Atletico.
Ironically, it was a yellow card that was incurred when he thought he had put Celtic ahead in the return game against Lazio. Marco Tilio is not registered.
James Forrest didn’t feature at the weekend but the manager has said that he will be involved, along with Mikey Johnston and Yang.
Joe Hart will start in goals. The Englishman will have been disappointed at conceding the goal against Motherwell at the weekend and will be vital if we are to win in Rome. In defence, expect Alistair Johnston to replace Tony Ralston on the backline with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales continuing with Greg Taylor at left back.
In midfield, Callum McGregor will captain the side along with Matt O’Riley and Odin Thiago Holm. David Turnbull, Paolo Bernardo and Tomoki Iwata are all notable suggestions but you’d imagine that Holm was given the start against Motherwell to get his sharpness up.
In attack, Celtic are somewhat threadbare on the wings. You would expect Kyogo to start through the middle with James Forrest and Yang out wide.
Predicted Team
Predicted XI: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Holm; Yang, Kyogo, Forrest.
Match Officials
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Mustafa Emre Eyisoy (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Kerem Ersoy (TUR)
Fourth Official: Arda Kardeşler (TUR)
Video Assistant Referee: Alper Ulusoy (TUR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)
UEFA Delegate: Michal Mertinyák (SVK)
Kick Off Time
The game kicks off at 5:45pm (Celtic Park Time).
Where to Watch
The game will be shown on TNT Sports 1 with coverage beginning at 5pm, with Manchester City vs RB Leipzig following.
🟢⚪ #UCL Matchday in Rome! 🇮🇹
🆚 Lazio
🏆 @ChampionsLeague
⌚ 5:45pm
🏟️ Stadio Olimpico
📻 Live audio wolrdwide on @CelticTV
📺 Live on @footballontnt#LazioCeltic | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/AfxBWmBhUq— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 28, 2023
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