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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Defiant Celtic Champions League rivals shrug off injury crisis

RB LEIPZIG ace Christoph Baumgartner insists they have proved they have one of the strongest squads in Germany as it was revealed they could be without up to seven players for next week's Champions League showdown at Celtic.

The Hoops play the Bundesliga joint leaders next week in the latest round of the new-look tournament and they eased through to the next round of the German Cup with a 4-2 victory over St Pauli this week.

However, RB Leipzig - who have yet to collect a single point in the Champions League after three games - are suffering from an injury crisis for their trip to Scotland.


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They will definitely be without Xavi Simons, David Raum, Xaver Schlager, Assan Ouedraogo and Nicolas Seiwald.

And top scorer Lois Openda was missing in midweek with a knee knock and keeper Peter Gulacsi is also a doubt with an ankle injury.

However, Austrian international Baumgartner insisted they can shrug off the loss of key personnel.

He said: "I believe all the injuries have actually brought the squad closer together.

"We have an incredibly broad and talented squad. Maybe not now in terms of numbers because of all the injuries, but in terms of quality, we are one of the best in the country.

"The replacement players have been desperate to show what they can do.

"I would prefer it if Xavi in particular were fit because we need our best players on the pitch.

"But I think we are playing very well at the moment."

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