Optimism is growing around Celtic’s chances in the Champions League following their draw with Atalanta.
The heavy loss to Borussia Dortmund now feels like a distant memory, thanks to Brendan Rodgers’ squad’s strong defensive performance that earned them a valuable point against the Europa League champions in Bergamo. With an upcoming home match against RB Leipzig, fans are hopeful that the team can make a significant impact in the competition and advance to the knockout rounds.
RB Leipzig faces a setback ahead of their Champions League match against Celtic, with goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi potentially sidelined due to an ankle injury he sustained during a win against Freiburg. Maarten Vandevoordt, a 22-year-old newcomer, stepped in for Gulacsi, making his first appearance since joining from Genk this summer.
The German club is now anxiously awaiting an update on Gulacsi’s condition, with coach Marco Rose confirming that he will miss the upcoming German Cup match against St Pauli and is doubtful for the Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund. Rose commented: “We’re still waiting for the exact diagnosis. He attempted to continue after the break, but it wasn’t possible. When he left the pitch, he knew right away it was serious. However, Maarten performed well, showing calm and confidence during a challenging situation. He’s worked hard in training and proved himself in this match. I’m not worried about relying on him in future games if necessary.”
Club Brugge (Home, November 27)
Celtic will be aiming for all three points against Club Brugge in back-to-back home fixtures. The Belgian team, despite a slow start to the season, is unbeaten in their last four matches, including a 2-1 victory over Anderlecht with goals from Romeo Vermant and Chemsdine Talbi.
Dinamo Zagreb (Away, December 10)
Brendan Rodgers will be relieved to hear about Dinamo Zagreb’s recent struggles at home as Celtic prepares for their visit to Croatia. Coach Nenad Bjelica has faced challenges since returning to the club, with only two wins following a 9-2 defeat by Bayern Munich. Zagreb remains seven points behind in their domestic league after a 4-2 loss to NK Osijek.
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Young Boys (Home, January 22)
The Swiss team finds themselves looking to avoid a relegation battle rather than contending for the title. After suffering their sixth loss in 11 matches to Lugano, their weak defense of last season’s championship continues. Joël Magnin took over as manager but has only managed one win since his recent appointment.
Aston Villa (Away, January 29)
Unai Emery’s squad extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, maintaining their position in the top four. Despite the result, Emery expressed frustration, telling BBC Match of the Day: “We failed to control the game at the end. We deserved the win, and it’s frustrating, but we have to accept it.”
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