CELTIC’S Great Dane Kasper Schmeichel celebrates his 38th birthday today.
And the legendary 109 times-capped keeper is looking for the perfect gift when he lines up against RB Leipzig in matchday four of the Champions League at Parkhead this evening.
Schmeichel, who joined from Anderlecht in the summer when his contract at the Belgian outfit expired, is looking for a second successive clean sheet in the competition after his thou-shall-not-pass performance against Atalanta in the scoreless stalemate in Bergamo last month.
NO WAY THROUGH…Kasper Schmeichel denies Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui in the goalless draw in Bergamo.
The towering netminder is already a firm favourite with the Hoops faithful and has taken over from where the popular Joe Hart left off.
Schmeichel went six Premiership games without conceding until Ross County’s Ronan Hale drilled a twice-taken penalty-kick past him in the champions’ comeback 2-1 win in Dingwall on October 6.
Aberdeen scored twice in the 2-2 draw in Glasgow a fortnight later, but the athletic shotstopper then racked up shut-outs in successive wins against Motherwell (3-0) and and Dundee (2-0).
The Dons were locked out in their 6-0 thrashing in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at the weekend and Schmeichel will return to Hampden next month in pursuit of his first medal as a Celt in the showpiece showdown with Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side.
The immediate focus, of course, is on tonight’s encounter against RB Leipzig and the keeper and his team-mates have something to prove after their disappointing 7-1 loss against another Bundesliga club, Borussia Dortmund, on matchday two in Germany just over a month ago.
BAWL BHOY…Kasper Schmeichel shouts instructions to his Celtic team-mates.
Schmeichel marked his Celtic debut in Europe’s most prestigious tournament in September when Brendan Rodgers’ men thumped Slovan Bratislava 5-1 under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
The giant No.1 will be looking for a similar result on this occasion – this time with a clean sheet.
Schmeichel signed a one-year deal with a 12-month option in the summer. After just 16 appearances as the Hoops’ last line of defence, everyone is hoping he will be at Parkhead long after the current deal ends.
All at CQN and Celtic fans everywhere wish Kasper a happy 38th birthday!
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v RB Leipzig this evening – only in your champion CQN.
