Atalanta v Celtic: team news, referee details, KO time and where to watch

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The Celtic Star

·23 October 2024

Atalanta v Celtic: team news, referee details, KO time and where to watch

Celtic are in Bergamo to face Atalanta this evening in Matchday Three of the UEFA Champions League. The Scottish Champions face the Europa League Winners as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to bounce back from their defeat to Borussia Dortmund with a result against the Serie A side.

Celtic dropped their first points of the domestic season with a draw to title challengers Aberdeen, despite increasing their lead over city rivals theRangers, who lost on Sunday.

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Brendan Rodgers looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Celtic Team News

Celtic will need to be at their defensive best to keep the Italians at bay, especially given how their brand of football pushed them onto Europa League success in Dublin earlier this year. Brendan will require to set up his team without Cameron Carter-Vickers, who did not travel to Italy. The USA Internationalist has had a foot problem and it appears that the manager has taken the approach not to rush the player back from injury; especially given the volume of upcoming fixtures.

Kasper Schmeichel will start in goals. The Dane will have been disappointed with some of the goals that he conceded in Dortmund and be keen to

In defence, expect the backline to be the same as Saturday with Auston Trusty and Liam Scales starting as the central pairing with Alex Valle and Alistair Johnston in the fullback roles.

Karim Adeyemiof Borussia Dortmund battles for the ball with Callum McGregor of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

In midfield, you would imagine that it would be the same trio that started at the weekend with Callum McGregor, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate. It will be interesting to see if the manager starts Engels or Hatate in a slightly deeper role to assist the Celtic skipper, especially given the fact that Atalanta are extremely strong on the counter.

In attack, Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kühn will start out wide. There have been some shouts that the physicality of Adam Idah could be utilised against the Italians but you would imagine that the manager will persist with Kyogo. The frontman spurned a couple of chances at the weekend and will be keen to get back to his clinical best this evening.

Predicted Celtic XI: Schmeichel; Valle, Scales, Trusty, Johnston; McGregor, Engels, Hatate; Maeda, Kyogo, Kühn.

UEFA Match Officials

UEFA have appointed Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto for the game. The whistler will be assisted by Senad Ibrišimbegović and Davor Beljo with compatriot Antoni Bandić on Fourth Official duties. Meanwhile, German official Sören Storks is on VAR and he will be assisted by Christian Dingert. Peljto is known to Celtic fans as the man that sent two players off in their UCL opener last season against Feyenoord.

Kick Off Time

The game kicks off in the early evening 5:45pm (Celtic Park Time) slot. This is potentially one that might catch fans out, who are used to UCL games starting at 8pm.