It’s Champions League action for Celtic this evening and one of the biggest games of their season so far.
The Hoops welcome Young Boys to Parkhead on matchday seven of the revamped League Phase in what has been described as a match with “enormous” expectation by Chris Sutton.
Ex-striker Sutton feels it’s Celtic‘s biggest match in a “long time” as there is so much riding on the points following some crucial Champions League results last night.
Celts know a win would essentially see them through to the knockout playoff round but things are never so easy in the top tier of continental competition.
Young Boys boss Giorgio Contini fired a warning at Celtic as his side looked to seal their first points of the tournament but their prep did not go too well as they failed to win in the Swiss league last weekend, making that caution look a tad foolish.
Still, the Hoops know what they need to do and they have been building to this fixture “for weeks” in their minds, according to midfielder Arne Engels in a Celtic TV interview this week.
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67 Hail Hail pored over the club’s Lennoxtown footage from yesterday afternoon’s training session.
And we picked out some interesting takeaways before the crunch tie in Glasgow this evening.
Glen Driscoll arrives
The performance manager may not have an active presence every day on the LT grass for Celtic but this match might be too important.
The fitness of Celtic’s stars is so vitally important considering the hectic schedule this season and Driscoll’s behind the scenes work has been key to ensuring that has not dropped.
Luis Palma working hard
Palma has been the subject of transfer interest this window with MLS clubs and sides in Spain seeking a deal for the winger. He has been given a few late cameos here and there by Rodgers but he’s still all smiles in training.
He will likely be named on the bench this evening but could make a difference if he comes on as he has done in previous fixtures last season vs Atletico Madrid and Lazio.
Dane Murray integrated well
The 21-year-old centre-half was recalled from his loan at Queen’s Park to allow Stephen Welsh out on loan to KV Mechelen.
He ticks the homegrown talent box but the big lad also seems to be fitting in well with the first-team as he’s put through his paces as a stretching partner for star man Kyogo and that can only make him feel like a big part of the squad.
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