Celtic is poised to secure a second win in this season’s UEFA Champions League as they host RB Leipzig, a team still in search of their first points. The contrasting fortunes of both sides have set the stage for an intriguing matchup at Celtic Park.
Celtic’s Champions League journey has been a rollercoaster ride thus far. They kicked off their campaign with a remarkable 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava, which created high expectations among fans. However, a devastating 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund followed, before they managed to salvage a 0-0 draw against Atalanta. This inconsistency makes it challenging to gauge Celtic’s form, but manager Brendan Rodgers is determined to build on their domestic success, where they recently thrashed title rivals Aberdeen 6-0.
On the other hand, RB Leipzig finds themselves in a precarious situation, having lost all three of their opening group matches and currently sitting in 31st place. Their defeats have come against formidable opponents—Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and Liverpool—each by a narrow margin, leaving them desperate for points. Manager Marco Rose will look to turn things around, particularly after a mixed week that included a cup win but a league loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Celtic welcomes back key players for this clash, including captain Callum McGregor, who has recovered from an abductor injury, providing a significant boost to the squad. He is expected to join Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn and Kyogo Furuhashi in the attack. Furuhashi, in particular, has been in good form, scoring three goals in his last four Champions League appearances at home.
The defense will see familiar faces as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty are set to anchor the backline. With Schmeichel celebrating his 38th birthday, fans will be eager to see if he can lead the team to victory against a struggling Leipzig side.
As both teams aim for crucial points, the match promises to be a thrilling encounter with significant implications for their Champions League campaigns.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnstone, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Furuhashi, Maeda
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig will face a significant challenge in their upcoming Champions League clash against Celtic, particularly as they are missing several key players. Marco Rose will be without Castello Lukeba, Xavi Simons, David Raum, and Xaver Schlager, all of whom are crucial to the team’s strategy and performance. The absence of these stars will undoubtedly impact Leipzig’s approach as they seek their first points of the campaign.
However, there is some positive news for Leipzig, as Nicolas Seiwald has returned to the bench after injury and could be an option for Rose if needed. In terms of tactics, Rose is expected to implement his version of the 4-4-2 formation against Celtic. In central midfield, Arthur Vermeeren and Amadou Haidara will be tasked with controlling the game and providing support to both the defense and attack.
The flanks will be occupied by Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa, who will aim to stretch the Celtic defense and create chances for the forwards. Defensively, Rose will likely rely on the experienced duo of Willi Orban and Lukas Klostermann to hold the backline together, while Benjamin Henrichs and summer signing Lutsharel Geertruida will operate as full-backs, contributing both defensively and in attack.
Leading the line for RB Leipzig will be the highly sought-after Benjamin Sesko, alongside Belgian forward Lois Openda. Both players are known for their pace and finishing ability, and they will be looking to exploit any vulnerabilities in the Celtic defense, which has shown signs of being susceptible this season. With the stakes high and both teams needing a win, this match promises to be a thrilling encounter as Leipzig fights to kickstart their European campaign.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Geertruida, Klostermann, Orban, Henrichs; Baumgartner, Haidara, Vermeeren, Nusa; Openda, Sesko
Key Stats
- Celtic enters their upcoming clash against RB Leipzig on the back of an impressive three-game winning streak across all competitions. The Scottish champions have shown formidable form at home, remaining unbeaten this season in front of their supporters. This strong home advantage will be crucial as they prepare to face a Leipzig side that has struggled to find their footing in the Champions League.
On the other hand, RB Leipzig has had a mixed run recently, losing two of their last four games. Despite this, they have only suffered two defeats away from home throughout the entire season, with one of those losses occurring in the Champions League. After losing all three of their group matches thus far, Leipzig is desperate to secure their first points in this competition.
A key player for Leipzig is Benjamin Sesko, who has been in good form this season despite his team’s struggles. The Slovenian forward has scored in his first two Champions League appearances, although he was held scoreless against Liverpool. As he prepares to face Celtic, Sesko will be eager to capitalize on the Bhoys’
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