JOHN Hartson reckons RB Leipzig are beatable opponents for Celtic tomorrow night – even if it will take an almost perfect Parkhead performance to achieve it.
By the standards of Brendan Rodgers’ regime, this has been a forgettable continental campaign for Celtic, the club tumbling out of Champions League reckoning against an AEK Athens side who haven’t set the heather alight since and following an opening home Europa League win against Rosenborg with back-to-back away setbacks against both halves of Red Bull’s energy drink empire.
If ever things are likely to come right, though, it is under the lights on a big European night in the
east end. Celtic have returned to their best domestic form in recent weeks and Hartson feels Leipzig could be vulnerable, particularly if they are minded to change their team around.
“Listen, if Celtic are ever going to win a game in Europe, it’ll come at Celtic Park. And how many times have they defied the odds in terms of winning a game, a big game?” said the BT Sport analyst. “I feel Thursday night is a game that they’re going to have to take to Leipzig, it’s almost going to have to be a perfect performance.
“The crowd will be there as it is always is, that 12th man that they’ve got at home. We’ve all witnessed it.
“Start strong, defend well, not take any risks at the back, not make any individual errors. Craig Gordon is going to have a few good saves then you’re looking for your record signing [Odsonne Edouard] to come up trumps.
“I think Leipzig are beatable, I really do.They’re not Barcelona, they’re not Bayern Munich, or PSG or Man City. Over there the game was almost in the balance up until they scored that first goal. It’s one Celtic can win, but I think it has to be a perfect performance.”
Watch Celtic v RB Leipzig exclusively live tomorrow from 8pm on BT Sport 3. Watch on TV and via the award winning BT Sport App. For info visit bt.com/sport
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