Thursday’s Celtic match at home to Rennes has all the makings of a pleasing night.
Not only are the Hoops in rampant form, but we have the opportunity to do something we have never have previously, win a group in European competition.
All three points against the French side and a Cluj defeat in Rome against Lazio would result in us being confirmed as table toppers, heading into the Round of 32 as a seeded team.
It’s an exciting prospect, but there’s still hard work to be done.
Neil Lennon must get his tactics and team selection spot on and given the embarrassment of riches at his disposal right now, there are plenty of big calls to make.
Three changes are plenty
Given we have already qualified regardless of our group winner status, it could be tempting for the manager to bring in more than a few fringe players and rest others ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ross County.
However, for me, there’s still a fair bit on the line and he should go with one of his strongest teams, taking into account some forced changes from Saturday’s match against Livingston.
Greg Taylor is likely to come into the side after an injury to Jonny Hayes, with Boli Bolingoli also unavailable. On the opposite flank it seems certain that Moritz Bauer will start due to Jeremie Frimpong’s ineligibility for European fixtures.
Elsewhere it should be mostly business as usual, Lennon looks set to make one big call in attacking midfield according to The Evening Express – starting Olivier Ntcham.
The 23-year-old had to settle for a place on the bench at the weekend but against a team from his homeland, and having scored that glorious winner against Lazio, is primed to shine on the big stage once again.
Flanked by Ryan Christie and James Forrest, who were both excellent at the weekend in wide roles, we should have more than enough creative talent to support Odsonne Edouard in attack.
Which flank that duo play on remains to be seen, with Christie deployed on the right against Livi in order to allow Frimpong more space to attack. It could well be that Forrest is on the left.
There are arguments that Mikey Johnston and Leigh Griffiths should feature, both of whom are available, but they can build their match fitness elsewhere and hopefully get minutes in Romania with the group already won.
Your predicted eleven in full is:
GK – Fraser Forster
RB – Moritz Bauer
CB – Christopher Jullien
CB – Kristoffer Ajer
LB – Greg Taylor
CM – Scott Brown
CM – Callum McGregor
RW – Ryan Christie
AM – Olivier Ntcham
LW – James Forrest
ST – Odsonne Edouard
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