RB Leipzig vs Celtic Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups | OneFootball

Wednesday’s Champions League action gets underway at the Red Bull Arena as RB Leipzig and Celtic go head-to-head in a bottom-half Group F six-pointer.

It’s been a nightmarish Champions League start for Die Roten Bullen as they’ve lost both group phase matches thus far via an aggregate score of 6-1, including a 4-1 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk at this venue.

Prior to a 2-0 loss at group leaders Real Madrid last time out, Leipzig sacked Domenico Tedesco and appointed Marco Rose as their new chief of staff.

However, Rose’s arrival at the helm has failed to produce the desired effect as the Germans have blown hot and cold across their four competitive games under the new manager (W2, L2).

Another sub-par performance is likely to push Leipzig towards a second successive group elimination, even though they started their Group F journey as second-favourites to reach the knock-outs.

Celtic’s visit to the Red Bull Arena is unlikely to doll out any favours to the Bundesliga powerhouse as the reigning Scottish Premiership champions need to win to remain in contention for a coveted second-place finish.

Ange Postecoglou’s side lost 3-0 to Madrid at home in their group stage curtain-raiser and subsequently played out a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar, as they head into proceedings three points adrift of the Ukrainians.

On the bright side, goals on either side of half-time fired Celtic to a 2-1 home win over fellow domestic rivals Motherwell at the weekend, helping them end a three-game winless run in all competitions (D1, L2).

Match Preview

RB Leipzig

Since a 2-0 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir in their opening home match of the 2020/21 Champions League season, the Germans haven’t kept a clean sheet in seven straight home outings in the competition.

Leipzig’s porous backline conceded an average of two goals per game during that seven-fixture sequence, suggesting rampaging Celtic forwards could have a field day.

The prospects of losing three consecutive contests at the beginning of a Champions League season for the second year in a row look plausible as Rose has suffered eight defeats in his 11 managerial appearances in the competition (W3).

Celtic

After racking up a four-game winning away run at the start of the season, Postecoglou’s lads have gone winless on their last two competitive travels (D1, L1), scoring just once in that period.

The Bhoys’ underwhelming away form doesn’t bode well for their bid to post their first-ever European triumph on German soil after winning none of their previous 13 visits to the country (D3, L10).

More importantly, Celtic failed to get on the scoresheet in nine of those 13 matches. But given Leipzig’s defensive frailties, the Hoops may buck that trend come Wednesday.

RB Leipzig vs Celtic Potential Line-ups

RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1): Peter Gulaszi; Benjamin Henrichs, Willi Orban, Abdou Diallo, Marcel Halstenber; Kevin Kampl, Xaver Schlager; Dominik Szoboszlai, Christopher Nkunku, Timo Werner; Andre Silva.

Celtic (4-3-3): Joe Hart; Josip Juranovic, Moritz Jenz, Stephen Welsh, Greg Taylor; Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor; Jota, Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi.

How to Watch?

Leipzig vs Celtic, alongside all other matches in Europe’s most prestigious club competition this season, is available to watch online via Champions League live streams.

And if you are interested in attending a future Champions League game, see our Champions League tickets page for more information.

RB Leipzig vs Celtic Prediction

Since a draw wouldn’t benefit either side, especially Leipzig, we expect both managers to go all-out attack from the offset, which could contribute to a high-scoring contest.

While both teams possess a wealth of attacking potential, defending has not been their strong suit this season, further backing an action-packed theme.

RB Leipzig 2-2 Celtic