Celtic return to Champions League motion away in opposition to German outfit RB Leipzig this night, with the Parkhead outfit nonetheless in search of their first group stage victory of the season.
Regardless of a courageous show on matchday one in opposition to holders Actual Madrid, the Hoops had been undone by the ruthless La Liga outfit within the second half, earlier than a string of missed possibilities proved expensive just a few weeks later as they had been held to a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Ange Postecoglou’s males are actually seemingly in determined want of the three factors in opposition to the Bundesliga aspect, though the omens are seemingly in opposition to the Glasgow giants having did not ever win a European away match in Germany in 13 makes an attempt.
Equally, the guests have solely gained certainly one of their final 13 away video games in Europe’s premier competitors, with that uncommon triumph having come in opposition to Anderlecht again in 2017 underneath Brendan Rodgers.
Forward of that intriguing encounter with Marco Rose’s aspect, right here’s how Soccer FanCast thinks the Bhoys will line up…
The Outdated Agency outfit head into the match with plenty of harm considerations and absences to deal with, because the likes of Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Mooy and Liel Abada all missed the journey to Saxony – the latter man doing so amid the Jewish vacation, Yom Kippur.
That reality has left Postecoglou with few choices as regards to rotation, with our prediction that the previous Yokohama boss will make only one change from the aspect that beat Motherwell on the weekend.
The defensive unit will seemingly stay the identical from that victory, with the youthful duo of Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh holding their place on the coronary heart of the backline as a result of lack of alternate options, albeit with it set to be a “huge blow” to not have Carter-Vickers in tow – in accordance with pundit Frank McAvennie.
In midfield, the trusted trio of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and skipper Callum McGregor ought to preserve their place, with the Scotland worldwide eligible to function after his dismissal whereas on home responsibility in opposition to the Steelmen on Saturday.
The one change might nicely come within the ahead line, with summer time arrival Sead Haksabanovic coming into the aspect alongside Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota, with the Montenegro worldwide having seemed “very lively” in Warsaw in opposition to Shakhtar just a few weeks in the past, as per journalist Josh Bunting.
The 23-year-old’s recall ought to see Japan worldwide Daizen Maeda make means, with the £15.5k-per-week “machine” – as dubbed by ex-Hoops striker Chris Sutton – enduring one thing of a barren run at current, with only one aim in 11 appearances in all competitions this season.
