Celtic prepare to face RB Leipzig in Group F of Champions League
Celtic travel to Germany to take on RB Leipzig in what is a significant clash in the Champions League group stages. The Scottish champions have one point from their opening two fixtures after securing a draw with Shakhtar Donetsk and can take a huge step closer to reaching the knockouts if they win this evening.
RB Leipzig are bottom of Group F having lost both of their opening Champions League fixtures, but they come into the game on the back of a 4-0 victory over VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga. This season’s Champions League campaign has been disappointing for the German side but they can get back on track by picking up three points against Celtic.
However, the Hoops have impressed in Europe so far even though their performances have not brought them the desired rewards. Manager Ange Postegolou was left frustrated that his side only managed to collect one point against Shakhtar but they are slowly building a belief that they can compete in Europe’s top competition. Will they earn their first Champions League win of the season?
Follow all the action as Celtic visit RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stages:
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-0 Celtic (Nkunku, 18’)⚽️
18 mins: RB Leipzig strike first!
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
15 mins: Yeah, the RB Leipzig goalkeeper and captain is taken off the pitch with Janis Blaswich replacing him. That’s a big blow early on for the home side.
When play restarts there’s a few battles in the middle of the pitch with neither side managing to get on top of the other.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
12 mins: Peter Gulasci is panicked after a blind pass back leaves him chasing after the ball. He manages to clear it but twists his knee as he boots the ball away.
Afterwards he stays down and isn’t going to be able to continue. The physios have called for a stretcher.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
9 mins: Stephen Welsh fouls Andre Silva after Mortiz Jenz gives the ball away cheaply.
Leipzig attempt to play on a feed Timo Werner into the box but Joe Hart is quick to respond and scoops up the ball. The referee then pulls plays back as Leipzig didn’t get any advantage.
The resultant free kick is then taken by Dominik Szoboszlai who belts his effort straight into the wall.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
6 mins: End to end stuff here! Celtic work the ball nicely into the Leipzig box and there’s a mad scramble that ends with the home side booting the ball clear.
Jota then wins it high up the pitch and cuts inside onto his right-foot. He shoots but a deflection takes all the sting out of the effort and the ball loops kindly to Gulacsi.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
3 mins: Chances! Christopher Nkunku has started brilliantly for Leipzig. The home side first catch Celtic on the break and send the forward in on goal. His effort is stopped before a rebound lands in the safe hands of Joe Hart.
Less than a minute later Leipzig fly down the right wing and whip a low cross into the six-yard area where Nkunku darts in front of Mortiz Jenz and turns his effort wide of the near post.
Kick off: RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
Leipzig kick off the match and work the ball over to the right wing. They try to move it quickly but Callum McGregor wins the ball in midfield and sends an early pass into the box for Daizen Maeda.
Maeda sprints over to the but Peter Gulacsi is off his line in a hurry and beats the winger to the loose ball.
RB Leipzg vs Celtic
Here come the teams.
Can Celtic get their first win on German soil or will Leipzig pick up their first points of this Champions League campaign?
Nkunku struggling in front of goal
Since the start of last season, Christopher Nkunku has been directly involved in eight goals in the Champions League (seven goals and one assist), twice as many as any other RB Leipzig player (4, Emil Forsberg and André Silva).
He is, however, yet to score or assist in the competition this term.
Celtic’s key man?
Through the first two matchdays, only Vinicius Junior (11) completed more take-ons in the Champions League than Celtic’s Jota (9).
The Portuguese completed eight in his last appearance against Shakhtar Donetsk. Only Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski has created more chances from open play.
