Predicted Celtic line-up to face FK Suduva in the Europa League play-offs
Celtic face FK Suduva on Thursday in a play-off tie for a place in the Europa League group stages. A 1-1 draw against Suduva in the first leg was not the result Celtic would have liked but Brendan Rodgers will be content with the away goal his team scored in Lithuania.
After a narrow win over Hamilton, Rodgers will hope his boys complete the job at home against Suduva to book Celtic’s place in the group stages of the Europa League.
Team News
Celtic are set to be without a handful of their key players for the European clash on Thursday, with the Scottish champions going through a defensive crisis at the moment.
Injuries to Jozo Simunovic, Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper have left Celtic very thin at the back, but Dedryck Boyata provided a boost against Hamilton as he made a match-winning return to Rodgers’ side.
Odsonne Edouard could recover in time to face Suduva and Daniel Arzani could be included in the squad after playing for the reserves against Hamilton.
Probable Celtic XI
Formation: 3-4-1-2
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Craig Gordon (GK)
Gordon is Celtic’s undisputed No.1 and should start the game on Thursday at Celtic Park.
Mikael Lustig (RCB)
Lustig had a solid game last weekend and could be rewarded with another start in a makeshift centre-back position.
Dedryck Boyata (CB)
It looked as if there was no way back for Boyata as a Celtic player but the Belgian made a match-winning return to Brendan Rodgers’ side against Hamilton. Now that he has been accepted back into the fold by his manager and teammates, Boyata will look to earn some love from the fans on Thursday.
Kristoffer Ajer (LCB)
Ajer is a reliable defender who was rarely tested by the Hamilton players. After a solid game, he is expected to start in the European tie.
James Forrest (RWB)
A player full of energy and industry, Forrest will look to cause problems to the Suduva defence with his pace and trickery.
Kieran Tierney (LWB)
Tierney is an attacking full-back who provided width to his team. A good crosser of the ball and filled with explosive pace, Tierney will look to stretch the Suduva defence on Thursday.
Scott Brown (CM)
Brown will look to maintain his usual standards by keeping things ticking in the midfield.
Callum McGregor (CM)
Partnering him in central midfield would be McGregor, whose creativity and flair will be required to cut open the well-drilled Suduva rearguard.
Tom Rogic (CAM)
Rogic is known for his work ethic and continuous running. The Australian will start in the No.10 role and look to influence the play in the final third.
Moussa Dembele (LS)
With his direct running and movement, Dembele is always going to be Celtic’s main threat. A lively attacker, he will look to get on the scoresheet against the Lithuanian minnows.
Read more: Brilliant Boyata, Poor Brown – The best and the worst-rated Celtic players vs Hamilton
Leigh Griffiths (RS)
Griffiths can link up very well with Dembele and his presence up top would give Celtic more chances of scoring goals.
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