Celtic predicted XI vs Sporting CP as Brendan Rodgers makes Kasper Schmeichel call

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Celtic face their toughest pre-season test to date this summer on Wednesday night.

The Hoops won their first two friendlies against Queen’s Park and Cork City, winning their first silverware of the season in Ireland.

But they hit a stumbling block in Lisbon at Saturday lunchtime as Portuguese top-flight outfit Estrela da Amadora beat the Bhoys 3-2.

Celtic fans were disappointed with the defending against Estrela, but Brendan Rodgers will be focused more on giving as many minutes to his squad as possible.

However, the Hoops face Portuguese champions Sporting CP tonight, so he may opt to go for experience at the back from the start.

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Schmeichel to start first pre-season game for Celtic

Rodgers intimated that Kasper Schmeichel had been given an extended break and only joined up with the rest of the Celtic squad at the weekend.

But the Dane will be available to face Sporting, and the goalkeeper needs game time. So we expect him to start tonight at the Estadio Algarve.

Kieran Tierney should keep his place at left-back, while captain Callum McGregor is the most likely player to start.

Celtic predicted XI vs Sporting CP

Reo Hatate impressed versus Estrela, as did new signing Benjamin Nygren. The Swede threaded a nice pass into Adam Idah’s feet for the Irishman’s goal on Saturday.

Idah will start as a result against Sporting, while James Forrest will also be rewarded.

For the second-half team, expect to see the likes of Viljami Sinisalo, Liam Scales, Hayato Inamura, Luke McCowan, Callum Osmand and more.