Predicted XI as Celtic face Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea | OneFootball

Celtic face Chelsea this evening in their final pre-season fixture of their USA Tour. The Scottish Champions will meet with Enzo Maresca’s team at the Notre Damn Stadium in Indiana as the Hoops bring the curtain down on their tour of the States before focusing on the beginning of the Premiership season against Kilmarnock.

Brendan Rodgers will be conscious of the upcoming league opener but he will be keen to test his side against another top quality team, which will hopefully benefit the club in the Champions League. The manager will know his starting XI for the game and we would expect to see a strong team from the start.

New Celtic No.1 Kasper Schmeichel was brilliant in the win over Man City and will likely be retained from the start.

Expect a backline of Tony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor to start. The four are most likely to start on Flag Day next weekend.

In midfield, Matt O”Riley will start alongside Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor in the first half.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic FC reacts after scoring a goal during the FC Series against the Manchester City FC at Kenan Memorial Stadium on July 23, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire) SOCCER:

In attack, expect Kyogo to lead the line with Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kühn on the right. The German was incredible in the first half against City, scoring twice and assisting once. Despite picking up a knee knock, the winger will be fit to play against Chelsea.

Maik Nawrocki remains sidelined with a knock but Carter-Vickers is in line to return to the starting XI after arriving to pre-season training. The Celts are still without Alistair Johnston as he continues to work back from his Copa America run. Carter-Vickers will get minutes in his legs as the manager looks to get the USA Internationalist fit and firing for next weekend’s Premiership opener against Killie.