Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-17 19:00.
[p]The UEFA Champions League (UCL) returns with an all-new league format for the 2024/25 season, with 1966/67 European Cup victors Celtic beginning their campaign with a home outing. That comes against arguably their weakest opponents, at least on paper, of this league phase so making a quick start will be imperative to their chances of qualifying for the UCL knockout rounds for the first time since 2012/13.[/p]
[p]That’ll be easier said than done, as even though Celtic have made the perfect start to this year’s Scottish Premiership campaign without conceding a single goal (W5), they’ve never won the opening match of a UCL proper campaign to this point (D2, L10)! Such a record will concern manager Brendan Rodgers then, as will the fact that his side have won just one of their last 13 home UCL group stage outings (D3 L9).[/p]
[p]Just as they are arguably Celtic’s weakest opponents during the league phase, Slovan Bratislava will likely think very similarly about their matchday one opponents. The visitors arrive in Scotland sitting top of the Slovak Super Liga after six matches (W5, L1) which will see them enter here full of confidence as they chase down a first European win against a British team since beating Derby County 1-0 all the way back in September 1975.[/p]
[p]Their record against such opposition ever since (D2, L7) may slightly dent spirits, but an impressive record of just two defeats across their last seven away European outings highlights their capabilities on the road (excluding qualifiers – W4, D1). They’ll also be desperate to lay down a marker early on into their first-ever UCL group/league appearance, becoming just the fourth side from Slovakia to reach this stage of the competition in history. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Celtic’s Callum McGregor has made a fantastic start to this season after netting three goals in five league games and he could strike again here given that all four of his goals at the European group stage have come at home. Tigran Barseghyan looks like Slovan’s best bet to get on the scoresheet, as he’s already netted eight competitive goals this term – four of which were decisive in victory. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Celtic’s last ten UCL matches have witnessed 3.4 match goals on average. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans [/i]Â [/p]