Feyenoord vs Celtic Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Feyenoord vs Celtic on and what time does it start? Feyenoord vs Celtic will take place on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Feyenoord vs Celtic? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Feyenoord vs Celtic on in the UK? Feyenoord vs Celtic will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Feyenoord vs Celtic in the UK? Feyenoord vs Celtic can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
FEYENOORD
Arne Slot’s Feyenoord, Eredivise champions for the first time since 2017 are back in the Champions League group stage. European Cup winners back in 1970, Slot has brought the good times back to Rotterdam, combining free-flowing attacking football, with winning football and their 1-0 defeat in the 2021-22 Europa Conference League final to Jose Mourinho’s Roma, no doubt spurred them on to better things last season.
Feyenoord took a couple of games to find their feet in this new campaign, but are now purring like a sports car, winning their last three in the Eredivisie and finding the net with terrifying regularity. Across those three victories, the Dutch champions have accumulated 17 goals which includes two separate 6-1 triumphs.
CELTIC
Celtic fans could be forgiven for feeling a little less optimistic over this Champions League group stage campaign than they may have been immediately following last season. Ange Postecoglou, who racked up five domestic trophies in two years at the club left to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur back in early June. Clearly a huge blow after having assembled a squad which dominated Scottish football over the past two seasons, Celtic moved to replace him with former boss Brendan Rodgers.
Despite being knocked out of the Scottish League Cup early on, Rodgers has led a strong Celtic start in the league, which includes victory away at bitter inter-city rivals Rangers. However, the ultimate litmus test comes in the Champions League, with Celtic desperate to finally break out of the groups and into the knockout stage, something Postecoglou failed to achieve.
THE TEAM NEWS
FEYENOORD
The big question regarding Feyenoord going into this match is how they will cope without Santiago Gimenez. Their first-choice striker is suspended following his red card in their most recent European fixture, losing 4-1 to Roma in the second-leg of their Europa League quarter final. Gimenez has netted five goals already in this season’s Eredivisie and expected replacement Yankuba Minteh has a big task ahead of him to fill that void.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Zerrouki; Paixao, Stengs, Ivanusec; Minteh
UNAVAILABLE: Bijlow (Injured), Gimenez (Suspended), Nieuwkoop (Injured), Ueda (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CELTIC
Midfielder Reo Hatate made his return from injury off the bench against Dundee over the weekend and could come into the starting line-up in Rotterdam. With Liel Abada out with a thigh injury picked up training with Israel over the international break, Hatate for Abada would represent just one change from the Celtic team who defeated Rangers at Ibrox prior to the break.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Hart; A Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Turnbull; Hatate, Furuhashi, Maeda
UNAVAILABLE: Abada (Injured), Carter-Vickers (Injured) Nawrocki (Injured), M Johnston (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Phillips (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Feyenoord have been utterly insatiable going forward so far this campaign, but it remains to be seen as to whether they can sustain such an incredible recent run in-front of goal without star striker Gimenez in the team. Arne Slot is a shrewd operator though and will have no doubt planned for this specific round of games ever since the group stage fixtures were confirmed. Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart is likely to be extremely busy across the 90 minutes and Feyenoord’s recent form, combined with home advantage being in their favour makes them well worth backing to come out on top here.
TIP: FEYENOORD TO WIN
