Celtic will target a second win in this season’s UEFA Champions League when they host an RB Leipzig side surprisingly looking for their first points.
The three matchdays in the UEFA Champions League have been contrasting to a different level for Celtic, who opened their campaign with a stellar victory at home against Slovan Bratislava with a 5-1 scoreline. Little did their fans envisage that the result would have the opposite effect in their second game as Borussia Dortmund mauled them by a 7-1 scoreline, and then Celtic managed to draw away at Atalanta.
Looking at those results, it is very difficult to pinpoint Celtic’s exact form in the Champions League. However, Brendan Rodgers will be aiming for a second win on Tuesday as they meet RB Leipzig in Glasgow. Considering the level of competition and their form, it is realistic for the Hoops to consider finishing in the top 24 as a good way to end the campaign. However, this league phase can spring some surprises.
On the domestic front, they demolished title rivals Aberdeen by a 6-0 scoreline, which will have set them up nicely for this critical UEFA Champions League encounter. A win is all Rodgers would want to rise in the standings, although they are currently on par with their realistic objectives for the European stage.
Marco Rose has a big task at hand: to bring his RB Leipzig side to the expected levels of the UEFA Champions League. Having lost all three of their opening league-phase games, Die Roten Bullen find themselves in the 31st spot and is one of the six teams yet to open their points tally in the competition.
The bigger argument is that Leipzig have had the toughest opening round of games compared to any other team, barring probably LOSC Lille. Their defeats against Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and Liverpool all came with a one-goal margin, and Rose will feel the tougher fixtures are behind them at the moment.
Yet, there is a lot of work to be done to climb up the ranks, and a win on Tuesday will certainly help in that regard. Leipzig have had a mixed week ahead of this game. They progressed in their DFB Pokal round but suffered a league defeat at the weekend at the hands of Rose’s former side, Borussia Dortmund. Hence, a victory over Celtic will seem imperative for the Bundesliga outfit, who are struggling for relevance in Europe.
Team News & Tactics
Celtic
Celtic had three key players return to the setup at the weekend: Adam Idah, captain Callum McGregor, and Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn. The latter two are expected to start against Leipzig, while Idah will be stationed on the bench. McGregor had missed a chunk of games with an abductor injury, and having him back will be a big boost for Rodgers.
Kuhn should partner up with Celtic’s key forward Kyogo Furuhashi in the attacking third. The Japanese international boasts three goals in his last four UEFA Champions League games at Parkhead. Kasper Schmeichel will celebrate his 38th birthday, and with a start against Leipzig, he should reflect on his fabulous career.
Otherwise, Celtic will include some familiar faces in the starting lineup. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty will form the central defensive pairing, while McGregor, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate will headline the midfield. In the frontline, alongside Kuhn and Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda is also expected to start against Leipzig.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnstone, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Furuhashi, Maeda
RB Leipzig
Leipzig are missing a few key stars, and Rose would love to have those absentees ahead of a crucial Champions League clash against Celtic. Castello Lukeba, Xavi Simons, David Raum, and Xaver Schlager are the ones missing from action.
Nicolas Seiwald was back on the bench at the weekend and could be an option for Marco Rose if he feels the need. The RB Leipzig boss is expected to set up in his variation of the 4-4-2 against Celtic, with Arthur Vermeeren and Amadou Haidara in central midfield berths.
Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa provide the width. Willi Orban and Lukas Klostermann are Rose’s central defensive choices, while Benjamin Henrichs and summer arrival Lutsharel Geertruida are preferred in those full-back roles.
In-demand forward Benjamin Sesko will lead the line for RB Leipzig alongside Belgian star Lois Openda. They will aim to hurt the Celtic defence, which has looked vulnerable at times this season.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Geertruida, Klostermann, Orban, Henrichs; Baumgartner, Haidara, Vermeeren, Nusa; Openda, Sesko
Key Stats
- Celtic are on a three-game winning run in all competitions.
- Celtic are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season.
- Leipzig have lost two of their last four games in all competitions.
- RB Leipzig have lost just twice all season away from home, with one of those coming in the UEFA Champions League.
- RB Leipzig have yet to secure their first points in the UEFA Champions League after losing all three of their matches.
Player to Watch
Benjamin Sesko
Sesko has a brilliant chance to extend his good run this season in the UEFA Champions League, even though his team has failed to win any of its first three games. The Slovenian has scored in his first two Champions League encounters this season while drawing a blank against Liverpool on matchday three.
He will want to get back to scoring ways against Celtic and take advantage of their defence that has looked a bit vulnerable this season. Hence, from the context of growing his profile and helping his team secure their first points of the Champions League season, Sesko will be motivated enough to star in this away-from-home clash at Parkhead.
Prediction
Celtic 2-3 RB Leipzig
Celtic have been very strong at Parkhead in all competitions this season and will not give away any game, regardless of the opponent at hand. However, they struggled for relevance against another German side in Borussia Dortmund and shipped in seven goals in the process, which does leave them in some doubt ahead of the Leipzig clash.
RB Leipzig will come to Glasgow with the clear intention of winning and collecting their first points in the UEFA Champions League this season. For a club of their size and stature, it’s very much unacceptable to be where they are currently, as a narrow yet entertaining win for Rose’s side seems to be on the cards ahead of Tuesday.
