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…
Players of Borussia Dortmund celebrate victory after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig at Signal Iduna Park on November 02, 2024. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
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.
Callum McGregor applauds the Celtic support after the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star
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.
Marco Rose, Head Coach of RB Leipzig, gives an interview prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Leipzig Stadium on October 23, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
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.
Brendan Rodgers at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star
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
This week’s Champions League fixtures. Image UEFA.com
Celtic in The Thirties – out tomorrow!
Matt Corr’s highly anticipated Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) are published tomorrow on Celtic Star Books. Order your copies today and receive signed copies which will be posted on Wednesday morning. Order at celticstarbooks.com
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!
