It’s set to be an enthralling evening of knockout football in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final this evening.
Celtic take on Aberdeen at Hampden Park and it is the battle of the unbeaten as the two Scottish Premiership leaders go head to head again.
Brendan Rodgers’ side threw away a two goal lead last month as they drew 2-2 with the Dons at Parkhead but this evening’s clash in the cup is sure to be a different prospect and challenge altogether.
Rodgers has tweaked his starting lineups in recent weeks and had a handful of fringe players start vs Dundee in midweek.
But the manager has rotated once again and has plumped for a stronger starting XI this evening at the national stadium.
- Starting XI: SCHMEICHEL, JOHNSTON, CCV, TRUSTY, VALLE, MCGREGOR, ENGELS, HATATE, KUHN, MAEDA, KYOGO.
- On the bench: SINISALO, TAYLOR, SCALES, PALMA, IDAH, YANG, BERNARDO, FORREST, RALSTON, WELSH.
Defensively it is certainly a positive having Cameron Carter-Vickers back available and ready to start matches but no matter who started this evening, one worthy centre-half would always miss out.
It’s Liam Scales who sits this one out.
In the midfield there has been the issue with captain Callum McGregor but he makes the return for the Hampden clash. Luke McCowan is cup-tied.
Nicolas Kuhn was missing from the Dundee victory but he, too, is available and starts.
And there’s a spot for Adam Idah on the bench despite recent injury worries, with Kyogo starting.
Reacting to the team news announcement as confirmed via the club’s social media channels this evening, fans had their say and seemed chuffed with the strong XI picked.
One wrote: “Strong team, let’s get this done Bhoys,” as another commented: “Trusty and CCV music to my ears!”
Others felt bad for Scales who had barely put a foot wrong, with one writing: “Scales has done nothing wrong but this is our strongest side.”
Another said: “Think Scales can find himself really hard done by.”
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