Aims to ‘make an impact’ on the Europa League crystalise at Celtic Park with the visit of Portuguese side Sporting Braga this evening. The performance and result in Belgrade on match day 1 was encouraging, but only a win tonight will maintain the same momentum.
Brendan Rodgers has decisions to make about the forward line. Kelechi Iheanacho was left out of last week’s starting line-up against Red Star, but was pivotal in the pick-up in Celtic’s fortunes when he came on at the break. Having played 66 minutes on Saturday, you have to expect the Nigerian will get the nod tonight.
That leaves us the question of what to do about Daizen Maeda. Sebastian Tounekti will surely start on the left, leaving Daizen a consideration on the right, alongside James Forrest, Yang and Michel-Ange Balikwisha. My hunch is Daizen will start.
The main worry in the middle of the park is the fitness of Reo Hatate, who missed out at the weekend. Ignore anything detrimental you read about Reo’s form, he remains critical to Celtic’s play. Brendan will surely give him every chance tonight.
Banjamin Nygren was a stand-out in Belgrade and brought raw energy when he came on during the second half against Hibs on Saturday. I expect him to make another pivotal contribution against Braga.
We have fond memories of Gustaf Lagerbielke – Braga’s new central defender. Gus scored the goal that got a Champions League home win monkey off our back against Feyenoord, and can consider himself unfortunate not to see more action in his time at Celtic. His only other European game for Celtic was away at Feyenoord, where he was one of two Celtic players red carded. Let’s hope that vibe is more consistent with his experiences tonight.
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If we start conceding a goal or more every game, I’ll be the first to call BR out on why it’s happening.
But we strengthened our defence in the summer and we’re conceding very few chances yet alone goals.
We’re a well organised team that is struggling to score.
It’s very frustrating that we cut the heart out of our attack but that’s where we are. It’ll have to be managed now as best we can until January.
CELTIC: Schmeichel, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Nygren, Bernardo, Maeda, Iheanacho, Tounekti.
Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Balikwisha, Yang, McCowan, Kenny, Engels, Saracchi, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Ralston
Tom McLaughlin on 2nd October 2025 3:38 pm
BIG JIMMY
Just stuck £10 on Celtic to win 2-1 @ 15/2
……………
Best of luck TO Bhoy.
I hope for a bigger margin but 2- 1 to the Celts would be fine.
HH Mate.
TOM Bhoy…sorries.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 2ND OCTOBER 2025 4:06 PM
Thats a pretty fair description of the reality of the situation
Long term Injuries and players wanting to go are problems faced by every football club and manager out there.
The squad management problems came when we sold another striker who was going to get us 30 goals this season and who didnt want to go, but kept a better one who did and then ended up playing him out of position.
I know I keep banging on about it but I cant get my head around it
Bernardo starting is the stand out from the team named.
That’s seemingly come from nowhere. Perhaps Hatate isn’t up to speed or maybe BR fancies his euro specialist in Bernardo doing a more controlled job in that midfield.
live updates up
Bernardo has a big chance tonight.