Preview: RB Leipzig vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

The Hoops came out on top the last time these two sides met when they secured a 2-1 Europa League win in Glasgow five years ago.

Match preview

RB Leipzig avoided a third successive defeat in all competitions when they secured a comfortable 4-0 Bundesliga victory at home against basement club Bochum VfL last weekend.

Chelsea-linked Christopher Nkunku and former Blues forward Timo Werner both scored a brace to help Die Roten Bullen claim just their third league win from eight matches this season.

Leipzig will welcome the return to home soil on Wednesday as they have won three of their last four matches at the Red Bull Arena, with their only defeat during this period being a heavy 4-1 loss in their Champions League opener against Shakhtar Donetsk - a result which brought an end to Domenico Tedesco's reign, with Marco Rose appointed as his successor.

After losing 2-0 away to holders Real Madrid in their most recent Champions League fixture, Leipzig currently sit bottom of Group F without a single point. The German club lost their opening three group games last season and subsequently failed to progress, so they will hoping for a positive result against Celtic to keep their last-16 hopes alive this time around.

One statistic which bodes well for Leipzig is that Scottish clubs have failed to win any of their last 13 Champions League/European Cup away games in Germany since Rangers secured a 2-1 win over Vorwarts Berlin back in November 1961.

Celtic ended their three-game winless run in all competitions - which included a draw and a defeat against Group F counterparts Real Madrid and Shakhtar respectively - with a 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory at home against Motherwell last weekend.

An own goal from Josip Juranovic cancelled out Kyogo Furuhashi's opener, but the Hoops regained the lead through Reo Hatate just after the hour mark. Captain Callum McGregor was then dismissed late on, but Celtic held on to claim maximum points and maintain their two-point cushion at the top of the Premiership.

Despite reported interest from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, head coach Ange Postecoglou is set to travel with his side to Saxony for Wednesday's Champions League clash, with the Hoops seeking to claim their first away win in the competition since September 2017 when they beat Anderlecht 3-0 in Belgium.

Indeed, a victory for Celtic at the Red Bull Arena would boost their chances of progressing from the group stage for the first time in a decade when they finished second in a group containing Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

However, success against Leipzig could prove challenging as Celtic have failed to win any of their 13 European away matches in Germany, including a 2-0 defeat against Die Roten Bullen in the 2017-18 Europa League.

RB Leipzig Champions League form:

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RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

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Celtic Champions League form:

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Celtic form (all competitions):

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Team News

RB Leipzig duo Konrad Laimer and Lukas Klostermann are both ruled out with ankle injuries, while Dani Olmo is sidelined with a ligament problem.

Rose is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with centre-back Mohamed Simakan set to continue at right-back in the absence of Klostermann and Xaver Schlager deputising for Laimer in centre-midfield alongside Kevin Kampl.

Werner, who was an unused substitute the last time Leipzig faced Celtic five years ago, is expected to start in attack with Nkunku, who was directly involved in nine Champions League goals in just six group games last season.

As for Celtic, Carl Starfelt (knee) and Georgios Giakoumakis (leg) are both set to miss out through injury, while Cameron Carter-Vickers (knock) and James McCarthy (illness) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

The potential absence of Carter-Vickers will likely see Moritz Jenz continue at centre-back alongside Stephen Welsh, with Juranovic and Greg Taylor set to keep their places at full-back.

Postecoglou could be tempted to hand either Sead Haksabanovic or Liel Abada a start ahead of Daizen Maeda, with Jota and Furuhashi expected to continue in attack.

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Gulasci; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Kampl, Schlager; Szoboszlai, Forsberg, Nkunku; Werner

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Juranovic, Welsh, Jenz, Taylor; Hatate, McGregor, O'Riley; Abada, Furuhashi, Jota

We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Celtic

Both sides will be aware that defeat on Wednesday would significantly hinder their chances of progression to the Champions League knockout rounds.

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