Europa League - RB Leipzig v Celtic

0762 · (This post was last modified: 23-10-2018, 16:13 by 0762.)

This will be a challenging week for Celtic and it will be interesting to see how the Hoops perform v a testy German team that will definitely "give them a game", much like RB Salzburg did in Austria. The Hoops have a League Cup semi-final at the end of the week but I think this game, at a higher level of footie, is far more important to Rodgers although he'll be looking to win both matches anyway. Celtic are suddenly "on a roll" and I'd say confidence will be reasonably high. However, top priority - don't lose the match and keep up the positive momentum.

0762 · 25-10-2018, 13:10

Rodgers having to negotiate through a few injury issues and will be hoping to avoid any further injury mishaps at a time when the Hoops' have definitely improved and try to keep up the positive momentum as well as enhance the "feel good factor".

0762 · (This post was last modified: 26-10-2018, 13:18 by 0762.)

FT and a comfortable 2-0 win for RB Leipzig. Rodgers fielding a team that looked like it had damage limitation "written all over it" with Edouard isolated up front. IMO Morgan too lightweight and inexperienced but Ryan Christie played a decent game tonight in front of a huge Celtic away support that was great with their continuous backing in trying to lift the team. The biggest disappointment was that both goals were avoidable and lapses in concentration by Kouasse and Gamboa very costly indeed esp after the 1st half hour in which the Hoops played very well in giving out as much as they were receiving. The loss of that 1st goal appeared to be a "sickener" that this Celtic side never recovered from but it is not a bad result in terms of it being the 1st leg of a double "head to head" EL group confrontation v RB Leipzig as Celtic will likely be much stronger in the 2nd leg at Celtic Park and the Hoops definitely have a chance of qualifying from this EL group! And the latest injury is suffered by Simunovic - it just had to be another CB! Rolleyes

Also the stats don't lie re Celtic's woeful Euro away record in say the last 40 fixtures - it's only about two away wins and it even includes a defeat in Gibraltar!

hibeejim21 · 26-10-2018, 16:15

Looked to me like Rodgers has gambled on winning the home games and rested some of his key players for sunday.

0762 · 26-10-2018, 16:24

We are only at the "midway pt" and Celtic have still to play RB Salzburg at home, a game that the Hoops could win if they "show up" and play with near enough Rodgers' strongest line up.