It was supposed to be a close contest between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park given the Dons’ unbeaten Premiership run and an incredible comeback at Parkhead two weeks back. But the Celts showed their sheer supremacy by clinching an emphatic 6-0 win in the Scottish League Cup semi-final. The spirit must be sky-high in the camp before hosting RB Leipzig on Tuesday night.
While the Hoops have won, drawn and lost 1 in their past three UEFA Champions League encounters, it’s a must-win tie for the German outfit to stay relevant in the knock-out race. They lost all their games so far in this competition and could undergo further misery despite having an edge in the head-to-head stats.
Predicted 4-3-3 Celtic Lineup To Face RB Leipzig
Defence
Kasper Schmeichel has been a like-for-like replacement for Joe Hart in terms of experience and expertise. Brendan Rodgers views him as his ‘number 1’ in all competitions and the veteran Dane should expect a busy outing, unlike the Aberdeen tie.
The Northern Irish boss has rotated his defensive options in recent weeks, but he should opt for experience even though Alex Valle has been incredible down the left. Greg Taylor could make way for the Barcelona loanee, but the right fullback spot belongs to Alistair Johnston who has cemented his starting status over Anthony Ralston. Cameron Carter-Vickers is back in business, also, the gaffer might prefer his compatriot Auston Trusty ahead of Liam Scales. The USMNT duo must exhibit composure and resilience against Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.
Midfield
Celtic have ample depth and quality in the middle of the park. But their midfield game is driven by skipper Callum McGregor with his towering presence as a deep-lying playmaker. Arne Engels has impressed with his box-to-box movements and creative spark, however, Reo Hatate needs to offer more as a ‘number 8’ should the manager decide to stick with the Japanese ace ahead of Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan. Hatate’s pace, flair and link-up play might contribute to attacking transitions, however, Bernardo’s ability to control the game could earn him a nod as a box-to-box operator.
Attack
Nicolas Kuhn has been a revelation on the right since joining the Bhoys earlier this year. Daizen Maeda, the hat-trick hero against Aberdeen, must showcase his work ethic, prowess and precision down the left-hand flank. The fans would hope for a moment of magic from Kyogo Furuhashi to grind out a result this midweek. Adam Idah, James Forrest and Luis Palma might get involved to inject freshness and flexibility as second-half substitutes.
