Ange Postecoglou has named his Celtic starting eleven for the third and final Champions League match of the season at Celtic Park as the Scottish Champions go in search of a first win in Group F to keep take their chances of securing a place in the Europa League to the next midweek when Celtic go to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to take on the Group leaders and current European Champions Real Madrid.
Shakhtar Donetsk are the visitors this evening with the two sides sharing a 1-1 draw on match-day two in Legia Warsaw’s stadium in the Polish Capital. It was a match that Celtic could and should have won but the Ukranian Champions are clearly more Champions League savvy that this new Celtic team build in the last year by the Celtic manager.
Joe Hart is in goals. Josip Juranovic and Greg Taylor (our super-sub from the dramatic weekend win at Tyecastle) both return to the side while the central defensive pairing of Cameron Carter Vickers and Moritz Jenz retain their places as every expeted. Carter Vickers retains the armband in the absence of Callum McGregor while Taylor will do the Huddle team-talk ahead of kick-off.
In midfield Matt O’Riley plays in the deeper No.6 role with Reo Hatate and Sead Haksabanovic are the two number eights. Liel Abada is the choice for the right hand side of the Celtic attack while Giakoumakis leads the line and Kyogo on the left with Jota still sidelined.
Subs for Celtic: Seigrist, Bain, Ralston, Mooy, Welsh, Bernabei, Turnbull, Maeda, Forrest, McCarthy, Abildgaard.
Kick-off is fast approaching at 8pm. Celtic Park will be rocking.
I will be attending the post-match media conference with Ange Postecoglou and various Celtic players (more are likely to appear if Celtic win) so will report back on that.
Prediction: Celtic 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 0.
COYBIG
I think Haksabanovic will be on the left with Kyogo playing in the middle behind Giakoumakis up front.