Celtic v BSC Young Boys: Alistair Johnston labels Wednesday night a Cup Final for Celtic | OneFootball

Alistair Johnston labels BSC Young Boys clash as a ‘cup final’ as Celtic gear up for their mammoth UEFA Champions League encounter on Wednesday night…

Alistair Johnston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Johnstone at Celtic Park on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Currently sitting 21st on nine points in the new revamped table in Europe’s elite club competition, Johnston and his teammates are well aware that a victory would seal a knockout playoff round encounter in February and in doing so becoming the first Celtic side in 13 years to progress past a group phase in the Champions League.

Young Boys Rock Bottom of Table

In contrast, Celtic’s opponents are rock bottom of the elongated 36-team table. The Swiss champions are only one of three teams left in the competition who have yet to pick up a point across the six matchday’s — the other two being Celtic’s two previous opponents, Slovak Bratislava and RB Leipzig.

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park (back to front, left to right) Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi before the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

‘You don’t really want to be going to Villa away needing something’

“It’s massive. We know where we are in the table and how important the points could be,” Johnston said, as reported by Daily Record. “At the end of the day, this is the one you look at. It could be like a cup final for us if you get the points, you need because you will probably secure a knockout round place. And you don’t really want to be going to Villa away needing something.

“Villa are comfortable but they’ll still want as many points as possible to be high up the table. We know Villa won’t be easy at all so it’s important that we make it count on Wednesday. It’s a massive chance and I’m looking forward to it. The atmosphere is going to be unbelievable – Celtic Park under the lights and with a lot on the line.”

Celtic overcame an organised Kilmarnock side to secure a place in the Scottish Cup fifth round on Saturday evening. Brendan Rodgers reintroduced wingers Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn back into the starting eleven ahead of Wednesday’s showdown.

Great to have Nicolas Kuhn back

Nicolas Kühn accidentally collides with Robby McCrorie during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on January 18, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s great to have Nic back. We’ve missed him in the past couple of games,” the 26 year-old explained. “He provides something for us – the spark, that moment of magic. He can beat his man on the inside or the outside.

“As a full-back, that’s a nightmare to defend against – when a guy’s just so comfortable going either way. He’s been doing it all year for us. So that wasn’t a surprise now that he’s back up to speed. He’s mad he didn’t have another goal or an assist in the game. But it’s good to have him back and firing because we’re going to need him in this Champions League match coming up,” Alistair Johnston said.

Johnston recognises that it’s a must-win for Celtic in two days’ time, and by any means necessary three points are required to hit that 12 point mark which would confirm double digit games for the club in the Champions League for the first ever time.

Must win match for Celtic – ‘We’ve got to find a way to get a result’

The Celtic right-back said: “We’ve got to find a way to get a result there. We’ve put ourselves in a great position. We’ve picked up a points’ total that I think everyone can look back on as a pretty solid tally. We’re at the end of January with something to play for. That’s something that we always wanted to be involved in.

“With two matches left we can clinch a spot in the knockout rounds. And what a special moment that would be. It’s where we want to be. It’s where we’ve been pushing over these past couple of years to get to. We have to take it by the scruff of the neck. That’s a challenge. It’s not going to be easy but it’s something that I think we’re all excited for.”

Kasper Schmeichel protests after Bobby Wales scores during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on January 18, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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