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Celtic’s opening fixture of the 2024-25 Champions League sees them take on Slovakian debutants Slovan Bratislava, who came through four two-legged qualification ties to reach this stage.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday September 18th 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 2 / US – CBS Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
CELTIC PREVIEW: RODGERS’ SIDE FLAWLESS SO FAR IN 2024-25.
Celtic fans have had their fair share of Champions League disappointment down the years whether it be finding themselves outclassed in the group stage, or failing to make it through all-together. Last season Brendan Rodgers’ men missed out of the round of 16 but like so many other clubs, the new league phase could offer salvation and more chance of making it through.
As expected, the Scottish champions have started the new campaign in formidable form domestically, boasting a 100% record in all competitions having not conceded a goal at all in the Scottish Premier League. However, as they know all too well, the Champions League represents a substantial step up in standard when it comes to the opposition.
SLOVAN BRATISLAVA PREVIEW: ATTENTION TURNS TO EUROPE FOLLOWING DOMESTIC STRUGGLES
One of five clubs to make their Champions League debut in its current guise, Slovan Bratislava are out to prove many people wrong, those who no doubt see them as unlikely to advance any further in the competition. But this is a team who have had to make it through the hard way, coming through all four rounds of qualification, including a two-legged aggregate triumph over Midtjylland in the play-off round.
They were dealt a huge shock however, in the weekend leading up to this league phase encounter after losing 0-5 at home to MSK Zilina in the Slovak Super Liga. That defeat saw them concede 18 shots, 11 of which were on target. A similarly poor performance defensively would see them taken apart in the Champions League, so head coach Vladimir Weiss must rectify those issues ahead of this game.
CELTIC TEAM NEWS: BERNARDO FOR ENGELS ONLY POTENTIAL CHANGE
Brendan Rodgers has a fully fit squad to choose from here and the expectation is that he will name a very similar team to the one that beat Hearts last time out, with Paulo Bernardo for Engels the only likely change.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Bernardo, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SLOVAN BRATISLAVA TEAM NEWS: DANGERMAN STRELEC TO LEAD LINE
David Strelec was enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and the Slovan Bratislava striker is the man to watch out for within the visiting XI from a Celtic point of view.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Sharani; Bajric, Kucka; Barseghyan, Tolic, Weiss; Strelec
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
CELTIC VS SLOVAN BRATISLAVA PREDICTION
Celtic have been consistent under-performers in the Champions League for a long time now, which makes this encounter all the more important. If the Bhoys are to convince anyone that things will be different in 2024-25, then only victory is good enough for them here at home against a club who are in uncharted territory.
Brendan Rodgers cannot complain with how the fixtures have turned out and with even tougher assignments ahead, he is likely to go all-out for three points with an ultra-offensive style of play across 90 minutes. Whilst Celtic are unlikely to make it easy for themselves when considering their Champions League history, backing them to overcome Slovan Bratislava has to be favoured.
CELTIC VS SLOVAN BRATISLAVA TIP: CELTIC TO WIN