Preview: Feyenoord vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

With Group E also featuring Atletico Madrid and Lazio, neither side can afford to drop points on the opening day, on which the home side make their return to Europe's top club competition after six years away.

Match preview

Perhaps it is fitting on their long-awaited return to the Champions League group phase that Feyenoord face a particularly evocative opponent in their opening fixture: the Rotterdam club's only previous meeting with Celtic came in the 1970 European Cup final.

On that occasion, Feyenoord won 2-1 to become the first Dutch side to lift the continent's most prized trophy, but much has changed in the decades since, and Eredivisie teams rarely feature in the latter stages.

Having reached the 2022 Europa Conference League final and last season's Europa League quarter-final - losing to Roma on both occasions - Arne Slot's current side now step up a level after claiming top spot in domestic football with an impressive title win.

After losing captain Orkun Kokcu to Benfica and then starting the 2023-24 campaign with two draws, Feyenoord posted their third consecutive victory at the weekend, and they have now scored 19 goals in their last four league games following a 6-1 thrashing of Heerenveen on Saturday - striker Santiago Gimenez bagging six.

Such scintillating form sees them keeping PSV company near the top of the early Eredivisie table, and with the backing of a vociferous home support at De Kuip they may fancy their chances of victory in midweek.

Now embarking on their first Champions League campaign since 2017, Feyenoord have only made it out of their group once before - and not since 1999 - so Slot's talented squad will be aiming to write a fresh page in club history during the months ahead.

Owing to their recent dominance of domestic competition, Celtic have been a more regular fixture in the Champions League of late, but they have failed to make the most of their opportunities: even under much-heralded former boss Ange Postecoglou, the Glasgow giants finished fourth in their group last year.

In fact, Celtic have won just one of their last 21 matches in Europe's top club tournament, losing 15 times in the process, and have not progressed to the knockout phase since 2012.

Current coach Brendan Rodgers oversaw his last Champions League game during his first spell at Parkhead, back in December 2017; but since a win in his first appearance with Liverpool nine years ago, he has only managed one victory in 17 subsequent matches.

There will be plenty to prove, then, as Celtic begin their quest for a place in the prestigious last-16, and they will do so following back-to-back wins either side of the international break.

After Kyogo Furuhashi scored in an Old Firm derby for the fourth time this year, helping his team to beat city rivals Rangers at Ibrox, the Japan striker found the net again on Saturday, when his 63rd-minute strike steered Celtic towards a 3-0 defeat of Dundee.

Although they sit in their familiar position at the top of the Scottish Premiership standings as a result, still unbeaten after five games, the Bhoys will now visit Rotterdam having lost three of their last four away games against Dutch clubs and drawn the other.

Celtic's last such win came at Ajax in August 2001, and ending that drought at De Kuip could prove a very tall task indeed.

Feyenoord form (all competitions):

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Celtic form (all competitions):

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Team News

Though they have been in red-hot form in front of goal this month, Feyenoord must make do without star striker Santiago Gimenez on Tuesday, as the Mexican serves a two-game suspension following his extra-time dismissal against Roma in last season's Europa League quarter-finals.

Having scored six goals in his last four outings and also provided an assist in the 6-1 win over Heerenveen, the absence of Gimenez gives Arne Slot something of a selection headache - particularly as back-up Ayase Ueda returned from Japan duty injured.

Newcastle United loanee Yankuba Minteh or Brazilian winger Igor Paixao could be asked to fill in against Celtic, but Slot does at least have Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida at his disposal after he missed out on the Netherlands' most recent Euro 2024 qualifier in Dublin; Bart Nieuwkoop remains a doubt, though.

Meanwhile, Celtic may bring Reo Hatate back into their starting XI, after making his return from a calf injury with a half-hour cameo on Saturday.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marco Tilio are both nearing comebacks, having recently returned to training, but Tuesday's game comes too early; winger Liel Abada is facing up to four months on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Nat Phillips, Paulo Bernardo and Luis Palma all made their debuts versus Dundee, but Phillips was substituted at half time and is unlikely to feature against Feyenoord.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:

Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Timber, Wieffer; Minteh, Stengs, Ivanusec; Paixao

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Johnston, Lagerkielke, Scales, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Turnbull; Hatate, Furuhashi, Maeda

We say: Feyenoord 2-1 Celtic

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