Celtic face Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday night, but one eye will be on the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Hoops resume their thrilling European adventure in midweek against Belgian giants Club Brugge with the club sat 15th in the league phase table.
Celtic have seven points from four games and a win against Brugge is likely to secure a knockout play-off round berth with 10 projected to be the magic number.
And Brendan Rodgers will be enthused by the news that Club Brugge have been rocked not only by infighting last week, but an injury crisis too.
Club Brugge injury crisis before Celtic game
It’s being reported by freelance journalist Mark Walker that Club Brugge’s injury list is increasing with four players now confirmed to be out for the Celtic clash.
Walker notes that Brugge are now ‘seriously depleted’ after left-back Bjorn Meijer and Swedish international Gustaf Nilsson picked up problems on international duty.
Meijer has a thigh injury and can’t go for a scan yet because the swelling is too severe, while Nilsson has an achilles heel problem and won’t return until December.
Hugo Vetlesen and Hugo Siquet are also set to miss the Celtic showdown at Parkhead according to reports in Belgium, it is being said.
Champions League scenarios for Celtic
A win for the Hoops, as said, would mean a massive step towards qualifying for the knockout play-off round. Celtic need to finish in the top 24 place for that to happen.
A draw wouldn’t be the worst result but would have to be classed as a missed opportunity given Club Brugge aren’t quite at the level of quality RB Leipzig are at – and Celtic thumped the German outfit.
And given their squad is currently ravaged by injury, Celtic need to take full advantage and take another three points.
Defeat would seriously halt the club’s momentum in the Champions League this season and the pressure to deliver points in the final three games would ramp up a few notches.
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