Celtic must not lose in Leipzig says Champions League winner Paul Lambert

The Celtic Star

·5 October 2022

Celtic must not lose in Leipzig says Champions League winner Paul Lambert

Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert reckons that his old club must come away from Germany with at least a point in this evening’s matchday 3 clash between RB Leipzig and Celtic. While a win would be awesome, a draw Lambert believes would set Celtic up for the two home games against RB Leipzig on next Tuesday (11 October) then against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday 25 October.

Jota of Celtic FC controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic FC at The Marshall Jozef Pilsudski’s Municipal Stadium of Legia Warsaw on September 14, 2022 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)

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While Celtic and RB Leipzig are playing out their double-header Shakhtar and Real Madrid are doing the same with the European Champions targeting maximum points after four matches which will guarantee qualification.

Seven points for Celtic in the next three games, would surely be enough to secure second spot, provided Shakhtar don’t surprise the Real Madrid so avoiding defeat on Germany is hugely important for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

“I think if they can come away with a point it will be a really good result because two games at Parkhead for any team is really difficult,” Paul Lambert told Sky Sports. “Hopefully the guys can go over there and get some sort of result. Leipzig is a tough game but they’ve been there before so they know the stadium they’re going to play in and the atmosphere.

“If they can get something from this game tonight I think it sets them up for the two games at Parkhead,” Paul Lambert stated.

Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic looks on during the Scottish Cup Sixth Round match between Dundee United FC and Celtic FC at Tannadice Park on March 14, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The former Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund maintains a strong interest in German football and does not play down the scale of the challenge Celtic face in Leipzig this evening, especially with the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt having to sit this one out through injury. Yet Lambert isn’t too concerned about the likes of Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz stepping in to the side.

Lambert though does accept that last night’s news that Carter-Vickers hadn’t travelled is a blow to Celtic. “I think if you lose any consistent player it’s a blow, that’s the key to it. It’s a blow to them but I think whoever goes in there will do a good job, I don’t think there’s any problem with whoever goes in. It’s a blow because he’s been very, very consistent.”

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose taking the training session yesterday ahead of the match against Celtic.

Lambert reckons that RB Leipzig have improved since the arrival of Marco Rose after the Bundeliga side endured a torrid few months at the start of the season. “I think Marco being in has certainly gave them a lift. I’ve spent some time with him when he was at Dortmund and he was excellent, really nice guy. Good coach and done a really good job at Dortmund.

“He’s done a good job since he went to Leipzig. He’s picked them up and this will be a really tough game. It’s a dangerous game for Celtic.”

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