Celtic are in Germany for tonight’s crucial Champions League game against RB Leipzig. The games against the Bundesliga side will help determine whether or not Ange Postecoglou’s side have European football to look forward to after Christmas.
The Scottish Champions opened their campaign with a defeat, albeit an impressive performance against Real Madrid. This was followed up with a point on the road against Shakhtar Donetsk but really should have taken all three.
Team News
Celtic go into tonight’s game without starting defensive pairing of Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers. The pair are working back from injury but this game has come too soon for them, meaning that Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh will continue in front of Joe Hart. Josip Juranovic and Greg Taylor will start in the full back berths.
In midfield, Callum McGregor will certainly start at the base of the midfield with Reo Hatate to his left and Matt O’Riley to his right. Aaron Mooy is unavailable having picked up a knock in training.
Meanwhile, in attack, Giorgos Giakoumakis makes it after concerns he had picked up an injury while away with Greece. He will have to settle for a place on the bench, though. It is likely that Kyogo will start alongside Jota and Sead Hakšabanović. Liel Abada is not with the travelling party as he observes Yom Kippur.
Predicted XI: Hart; Juranovic, Jenz, Welsh, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate; Hakšabanović, Kyogo and Jota.
Substitutes will include Siegrist, Bernabei, Ralston, Abildgaard, Turnbull, Maeda, Forrest, Giakoumakis and McCarthy.
Kick-off Time
The game kicks off at 17:45 (Celtic Park time).
Where to Watch
The game will be shown on BT Sport 4, with coverage starting at 5pm.
It’s a massive game for Celtic tonight and hopefully one that can see points being added to the tally and put Celtic on course for the knock-out rounds…
COYBIG