Celtic’s UEFA Champions League trip to RB Leipzig this evening is pivotal for the Bhoys’ Group F chances. It will tell us a lot about what’s up for grabs in the second half of the six-game gauntlet.
A win puts a stunning last 16 berth into serious contention with a draw far from a bad result in that regard either if Real Madrid take care of Shakhtar Donetsk. A defeat, meanwhile, will leave the Bhoys most likely searching for a Europa League spot.
Ange Postecoglou has a variety of tactical options at his disposal, and while the team’s philosophy won’t change, the personnel selected can provide natural tweaks to the set-up. What will the XI be? Here’s our best guess…
Joe Hart is fit and available to start. He will undoubtedly do so despite his mix-up with Josip Juranovic in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Motherwell.
Both players will be keen to put that error behind them this evening, with the rest of the back four likely to be made up of Stephen Welsh, Moritz Jenz and Greg Taylor.
In midfield is where Ange may spring one of his big surprises. Oliver Abildgaard, on the face of it, seems to have been signed for occasions like this when Celtic may require a bit of extra defensive shielding in midfield. I reckon tonight we could see his very first start after his weekend debut.
That would allow Callum McGregor to either play in a double pivot alongside the Dane or a bit further forward with Reo Hatate. Either way that looks like a sound midfield three this evening, with Matt O’Riley ready to make an impact off the bench.
Out wide, with Liel Abada in Glasgow, there are potential opportunities for Daizen Maeda and Sead Haksabanovic to start on the opposite flank from Jota.
I’ve gone for Haksabanovic here – Postecoglou favoured him in Warsaw and he started well. Fitness prevented him from featuring beyond half time but with more training under his belt, tonight could again be a big chance for him. Maeda is likely to see action from the bench, even if he doesn’t start.
In attack, Giorgos Giakoumakis is again available, but the smart money is on him being utilised in the second half with Kyogo Furuhashi ready to have a go at the Germans on the counter.
Your predicted XI in full is: Hart, Juranovic, Welsh, Jenz, Taylor, Abildgaard, McGregor, Hatate, Haksabanovic, Jota, Kyogo.
In other news, Celtic talents stun RB Leipzig in Germany to keep UEFA Youth League dreams alive.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
