Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Celtic to BayArena this Thursday for a crunch UEFA Europa League group stage game.
Venue: BayArena
Key Statistics
Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in the UEFA Europa League this season (W3, D1).
They have scored 11 goals and conceded just two so far in the Europa League group stage.
The Germans have also gone undefeated in every UEL group stage home game they have played (W11, D3).
Celtic heaviest-ever UEL/UEFA Cup loss at home came against Leverkusen, who beat them 4-0 back in September.
The ‘Bhoys’ currently have the joint-worst goals conceded total across the UEL after four matchdays (ten goals).
There’s been an own goal in four of Celtic’s previous six UEL fixtures.
Head to head
The first and only meeting between both teams came in September which Leverkusen won 4-0.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Bayer Leverkusen: W-D-W-L-L
Celtic: W-W-W-D-W
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen will look to book their place in the round of 32 of the 2021/22 Europa League when they welcome Celtic to Germany.
The Bundesliga side have dominated their group so far and are entering this fixture sitting on top of the group table.
The hosts welcome Celtic fresh from a 1-0 win over Bochum in the Bundesliga; a result which extended their unbeaten run to three games and ensured that they kept their second consecutive home clean sheet.
A 4-0 win over Real Betis in their last UEL appearance have them three points ahead of the rest and needing just a point to book a place in the next round. But they will be desperate for all three points and secure for themselves the top spot with Real Betis still able to win the group.
However, an undefeated record in every UEL group stage home game they’ve played so far (W11, D3) will give them the needed confidence to pick up maximum points in this game.
Possible Bayer Leverkusen starting line-ups
Lukas Hradecky, Jeremie Frimpong, Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba, Daley Sinkgraven, Exequiel Palacios, Robert Andrich, Moussa Diaby, Florian Wirtz, Nadiem Amiri, Amine Adli.
Injured: Julian Baumgartlinger, Mitchel Bakker, Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Doubtful: Charles Aranguiz, Karim Bellarabi, Lucas Alario.
Suspended: Kerem Demirbay
Celtic
After their weekend exertions in the Scottish Cup over the weekend, Celtic will travel to the BayArena this Thursday looking to continue their resurgence under Ange Postecoglou.
‘The Hoops’ secured a 1-0 win over At Johnstone over the weekend thanks to a 73rd-minute strike from James Forrest.
The win was their third consecutive win and extended their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions.
In Europe, Postecoglou’s side have won their last two group games and have secured a place in the Europa Conference League.
However, the financial and sporting benefits of the Europa League means the visitors will be desperate to win this game and give themselves a chance of progressing to the next round of this competition.
Possible Celtic starting line-ups
Joe Hart, Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Osaze Urhoghide, Josip Juranovic, David Turnbull, James McCarthy, Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada.
Injured: Christopher Jullien
Doubtful: Stephen Welsh, Tom Rogic, Carl Starfelt.
Suspended: None
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen: 1-2 Celtic
