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Werner has the backing of Leipzig coach Marco Rose but it was Christopher Nkunku's seventh goal of the campaign 10 minutes from time helped them to rescue a point on the road in Mainz on Saturday. That result kept the Saxony-based side hovering around mid-table in the Bundesliga after nine games played. "Our second-half performance was really good and we created lots of chances," the RBL tactician said after overseeing his first draw since taking the reins at the Red Bull Arena in September. A goal from Nkunku and an Andre Silva double against Celtic last time out delivered a first triumph in Champions League Group F for Leipzig, although the win was soured by a cruciate injury to Peter Gulacsi that left the goalkeeper requiring surgery. Orjan Nyland was signed as cover on Sunday, but Janis Blaswich is expected to continue as deputy for now. Should they manage to do the double over the Scottish champions at Celtic Park, the visitors would boost their challenge of qualifying along with one of the section favourites, current leaders Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk, who are in second.
Celtic bounced back from last week's loss in Leipzig with a dramatic 2-1 injury-time win away against St Johnstone. That result, sealed by Giorgos Giakouamkis's winner five minutes into added time, meant that The Bhoys maintained their two-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Home thoughts now turn to the visit of Die Roten Bullen and what could be classed as a must-win game for The Hoops, who are bottom of the section with just one point. Injured in the reverse fixture last Wednesday, captain Callum McGregor is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury but there was better news for Celtic at the weekend, with Giakouamkis and Cameron Carter-Vickers returning from respective knocks. "We've got to make sure our mentality is stronger at this level," coach Ange Postecoglou said after the previous meeting against Leipzig.
Match stats
Nkunku got his ninth Champions League goal for Leipzig in the reverse fixture, taking him level with Emil Forsberg as the club's record scorer in the competition.
Only Leroy Sane, Mo Salah, Sebastien Haller, Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema have scored more Champions League goals since the start of last season than Nkunku's eight.
Silva has nine goals and three assists in 15 Champions League starts. His nine shots against Celtic was a club record for Leipzig in the competition.
An average of 4.5 goals have been scored in Leipzig's last eight Champions League away games.
Leipzig have won all three fixtures at home to Scottish clubs, but lost both away games in Scotland (2-1 vs. Celtic in 2018 and 3-1 vs. Rangers last season).
Celtic have kept only one clean sheet in their last 23 European fixtures, conceding 55 times - including seven this season.
Probable teams
Celtic: Hart - Juranovic, Jenz, Carter-Vickers (c), Taylor - Abildgaard, Hatate - Maeda, O'Riley, Jota - Furuhashi
Out: McGregor (knee), Starfelt (knee)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Ange Postecoglou
Leipzig: Blaswich - Simakan, Orban (c), Gvardiol, Raum - Kampl, Schlager - Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Werner - Silva
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Olmo (knee)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Marco Rose
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