Celtic vs RB Leipzig predictions: Goals the key in Glasgow
- Celtic were 5-1 winners at home to Slovan Bratislava on matchday one
- RB Leipzig have lost all three Champions League games so far
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals
Celtic have tallied a decent return of four points from three Champions League games so far and will be hoping to earn another positive result as RB Leipzig come to Glasgow.
The Bundesliga outfit have lost all three games to this point, going down to Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool.
With Celtic routinely dominant in domestic action but hammered 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund last month in this competition, this is a finely balanced contest on paper as Marco Rose's side desperately seek some Champions League momentum.
Team news
Having welcomed skipper Callum McGregor and central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers for the 6-0 rout of Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday evening, Brendan Rodgers looks to have a full deck as Adam Idah also came off the bench in that League Cup semi-final success.
Leipzig lost defender Castello Lukeba along with their unbeaten Bundesliga record at the weekend. David Raum, Xaver Schlager and Xavi Simons are also expected to miss out, while Assan Ouedraogo and Nicolas Seiwald will be assessed late.
The stats
Leipzig have won three of the four previous meetings between these clubs.
In the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage Timo Werner and substitute Emil Forsberg scored in a 2-0 win in Glasgow.
Celtic have lost five successive games against Bundesliga opposition, with four goals scored and 19 conceded.
Celtic have only won four of their last 35 games in the Champions League proper.
RB Leipzig have only drawn one of their last 14 away games in European competition.
Celtic's loss in Dortmund is their only defeat in 24 games since March.
Prediction
Fancying either side to win is tough. Celtic were competent in the 5-1 defeat of Slovan Bratislava here in September but they offered up the sort of chances a side like Leipzig would thrive on.
The Bhoys were wide open in Germany as Dortmund exposed their shortcomings ruthlessly but they responded with a commendable draw in Italy, defending with lots of character.
Leipzig have faced three European A-listers in Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool and are unfortunate to have come away pointless. They will almost certainly view this as drop in class.
With just four wins in 35 games in the Champions League proper, that win over Slovan Bratislava is much too small a sample to be judging Celtic on, the Scottish champions must do a lot more before Parkhead can be restored to the fortress-like status of old.
It does, though, seem as if attack will be the best form of defence for both teams and an open contest could ensue with plenty goals, probably at both ends.
The entertainment value in Glasgow should be high, but it really is up for debate which team will leave happiest, so the safe play is to stay in the goals market.
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