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Celtic will aim to pick up their first Europa League points on Thursday night when Celta Vigo come to town.
Both sides are in the same boat heading into this fixture because they are winless and sitting in the elimination zone, on zero points.
Celtic thrashed Hearts 7-1 over the weekend, so there should be no excuses going into this Europa League fixture, as 67 Hail Hail put forward five questions facing Martin O’Neill, including the absence of The Green Brigade.
Callum Osmand, Camilo Duran and Haissem Hassan started together for the first time against Hearts, and they ripped them apart.
Seven goals were scored by Celtic, including a first-half brace from Osmand and Duran also getting on the scoresheet.
Hyunjun Yang still isn’t available, while Kasper Hogh and Sebastian Tounekti simply don’t have the form to earn starts, so surely O’Neill sticks with the same front three!?
If O’Neill does change it up for tactical reasons, it will annoy the Celtic Park faithful because finally there is something to cheer about in the forward areas and the manager needs to stick with it.
Aside from those two games against Rangers before the international break, Celtic always get the job done on the domestic circuit; that’s why they have won back-to-back doubles.
But Celtic have faced many issues in Europe, including the defeats to LASK, Ferencvaros and Benfica – where the team has looked well off it.
The fear from some is that Celtic, after ripping apart Hearts, will revert to type in Europe, struggle again, look out of their depth and bring the mood down.
It has been well-documented that the Green Brigade won’t be attending Celtic’s clash against Celta Vigo, with many having an opinion on whether it’s the right or wrong call.
At the end of the day, they were also absent for large parts of last season, before being brought back for the post-split fixtures, and it made the world of difference.
You are hoping it doesn’t have the opposite effect here, in terms of atmosphere, because you just know it will be a topic of discussion if the Hoops lose.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is still out, while Auston Trusty won’t be available after the unfortunate death of his father.
More than likely, Dane Murray will partner Liam Scales at the heart of defence, and you are only as good as your last game.
Yes, Murray gave away a penalty against Benfica in Europe last time out, but he had no trouble against Hearts, and if he puts in a positive display here, then there is no reason to drop him from the XI.
With Carter-Vickers still absent and returning from another injury, this is Murray’s chance to shut up his critics and become a regular starter under O’Neill.
Let’s be honest, this is a must-win for Celtic. Lose this, and you start talking about how likely a possible elimination from the Europa League is.
Not only that, the anger and frustration will quickly return despite that demolition job, and it will add fuel to the fire for the likes of Chris Sutton, who think Celtic are ‘flat-track bullies.’
Lose this, and then win at the weekend at Hibernian, and you are only further proving his point! The mood in Glasgow is very delicate right now, so please don’t lose this Celtic because it simply won’t help matters!