It's still all to play for for Celtic in the Champions League as Ange Postecoglou and his team gear up for four crucial games that will determine where – or if – they're playing their European football after the international break.
The Hoops haven't let themselves down with their performances so far and it's quite incredible that after 26 shots on goal against Real Madrid and Shakhtar, a Celtic player is yet to score in Europe this season. That will need to be rectified and fast if they are to conquer Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena and close the gap on Group F's top two.
Leipzig have endured a sticky start to the season but seem to be finding their feet again under Marco Rose. And after a 4-0 victory over Bochum at the weekend that saw Timo Werner get back among the goals with a brace, there has been better times to play them.
Nonetheless optimism will be high in the Celtic camp after they just about shook off their shock defeat to St Mirren by taking care of Motherwell at the weekend. They'll back themselves to at least score a goal or two; keeping it tight at the other end against a Leipzig side who pack a serious punch is another matter.
Postecoglou will be without Liel Abada, who has withdrawn for religious reasons, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Mooy and Carl Starfelt make up a growing injury list. It all means one of Daizen Maeda or Sead Haksabanovic are likely to join Jota out wide while Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz will pair up at centre-half once again.
The Celtic boss said: “In terms of outs, Cameron wasn’t 100 per cent so he’s not with the team and Liel Abada didn’t travel and obviously Carl Starfelt and Aaron Mooy had a bit of a niggle in training so we left him behind. Cameron has been out for a few games now. When he’s fit he’ll be available again but our concentration has been on the guys who are ready and fit to go and looking forward to the game."
Predicted Celtic XI
Provisional Celtic squad
Joe Hart
Scott Bain
Benjamin Siegrist
Greg Taylor
Moritz Jenz
Alexandro Bernabei
Anthony Ralston
Stephen Welsh
Josip Juranovic
Reo Hatate
Callum McGregor
James McCarthy
Matt O’Riley
Oliver Abildgaard
David Turnbull
Sead Haksabanovic
James Forrest
Kyogo Furuhashi
Jota
Daizen Maeda
Giorgos Giakoumakis
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