It’s the big one for Celtic, the game that will test their quality from back to front as they prepare for a mouthwatering showdown against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have made a blistering start to the new season and nothing seems to be stopping them.
Before a ball was kicked in the Champions League, there was a real belief that the team could and will do something special in Europe this term.
Then Celtic go and outclass Slovan Bratislava in their opening game and send a positive message to the fans, but everyone knows that the Dortmund trip is the most difficult one of the games they have been handed.
The German club, managed by Nuri Sahin who briefly played under Rodgers at Liverpool, reached the Champions League final last season under Edin Terzić’s stewardship.
Derek Rae provided an interesting insight into Dortmund and how they are fairing ahead of welcoming Celtic for gameweek two of the Champions League.
The Bundesliga commentator and expert spoke about Dortmund’s attack and how that should serve as a ‘warning’ to the Scottish champions.
Only last Friday, Sahin’s side were 2-0 down after 20 minutes at home to Bochum, but proceeded to score four goals and win the game.
Dortmund have scored three or more goals three times already this term, including putting three past Club Brugge for their opening Champions League win.
Rae highlighted two possible threats Dortmund might bring to the table, from their live wire wide player Karim Adeyemi and one of the best strikers in Germany’s top-tier, Serhou Guirassy, as he told Premier Sports.
Guirassy, who has four goals in four games in all competitions this season, was described as the ‘complete striker’ by Rae, so Celtic fans will rue that Cameron Carter-Vickers isn’t available.
Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy are Borussia Dortmund’s threat against Celtic
“I would use the word schizophrenic to describe Dortmund, in fact, in the newspapers today, the main headline in Kicker magazine was ‘balancing act’,” shared Rae.
“Dortmund are trying to perform this balancing act because, attacking-wise they can be very good, if you watched their game against Bochum on Friday, they came back from 2-0 down. Could have been 3-0 down. Found a way to win. They can do that, so that’s the warning to Celtic.
“Celtic have a chance. I don’t think Celtic fans should think ‘yeah, it’s going to be easy’. Not that you would against a team that got to the Champions League final last season – what I would say is there is individual quality, so watch out for Karim Adeyemi, who is left-footed and very fast. Usually plays on the right and can also play on the left. And Serhou Guirassy, who has just joined from Stuttgart in the summer. 28 goals in 28 Bundesliga matches last season. He is the complete striker. Someone who has the physical presence. He can score. Play with his back to goal. Can bring others in and has started really well with Dortmund.”
Celtic without Cameron Carter-Vickers against Borussia Dortmund
Amid all the positivity, the goals flowing in and the squad players pushing one another. The one negative is that Carter-Vickers is still sidelined.
The American is huge for the Bhoys at the back and he will be a big miss for those around him, especially in such a hostile environment.
READ MORE: Former manager highlights why ‘special’ Liam Scales was always set for Celtic stardom
But this is where Auston Trusty needs to step up. He has had a flavour of what it’s like to rep the club’s colours and now he will be thrown straight into the deep end.
Liam Scales might just be the main guy at the back, in terms of the leader, especially given that he tasted Champions League football last season.
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