Celtic return to Champions League action away against German outfit RB Leipzig this evening, with the Parkhead outfit still looking for their first group stage victory of the season.
Despite a brave display on matchday one against holders Real Madrid, the Hoops were undone by the ruthless La Liga outfit in the second half, before a string of missed chances proved costly a few weeks later as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Ange Postecoglou’s men are now seemingly in desperate need of the three points against the Bundesliga side, although the omens are seemingly against the Glasgow giants having failed to ever win a European away match in Germany in 13 attempts.
Equally, the visitors have only won one of their last 13 away games in Europe’s premier competition, with that rare triumph having come against Anderlecht back in 2017 under Brendan Rodgers.
Ahead of that intriguing encounter with Marco Rose’s side, here’s how Football FanCast thinks the Bhoys will line up…
The Old Firm outfit head into the match with a number of injury concerns and absences to contend with, as the likes of Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Mooy and Liel Abada all missed the trip to Saxony – the latter man doing so amid the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur.
That fact has left Postecoglou with few options with regards to rotation, with our prediction that the former Yokohama boss will make just one change from the side that beat Motherwell at the weekend.
The defensive unit will seemingly remain the same from that victory, with the youthful duo of Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh keeping their place at the heart of the backline due to the lack of alternatives, albeit with it set to be a “massive blow” not to have Carter-Vickers in tow – according to pundit Frank McAvennie.
In midfield, the trusted trio of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and skipper Callum McGregor should keep their place, with the Scotland international eligible to feature after his dismissal while on domestic duty against the Steelmen on Saturday.
The only change could well come in the forward line, with summer arrival Sead Haksabanovic coming into the side alongside Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota, with the Montenegro international having looked “very lively” in Warsaw against Shakhtar a few weeks ago, as per journalist Josh Bunting.
The 23-year-old’s recall should see Japan international Daizen Maeda make way, with the £15.5k-per-week “machine” – as dubbed by ex-Hoops striker Chris Sutton – enduring something of a barren run at present, with just one goal in 11 appearances in all competitions this season.