Celtic will be aiming to put themselves on course for a place in the Europa League group stages when they travel to Lithuania to take on Suduva in Thursday’s qualification play-off first leg.
The Hoops men saw their hopes of reaching the Champions League ended by a 3-2 aggregate defeat against AEK Athens, and will need to progress through this tie to avoid missing out on European football altogether.
Latest Odds
Having run out 10-1 aggregate winners when the sides met back in 2002 UEFA Cup, they are 2/5 (1.40) favourites with bet365 to bolster their chances of continental success by coming out on top in Marijampole.
Vladimir Cheburin’s team also dropped out of Champions League qualification after losing 5-0 to Crvena Zvezda, but can be backed at 15/2 (8.50) to raise hopes of a first ever Europa League group stage appearances with a victory here.
The hosts’ last two home matches in this competition have both resulted in draws, and you can get odds of 10/3 (4.33) on them making it three in a row with another stalemate.
Team News
The home side have no injury concerns aside from Alassane N’Diaye, who is out with a long term knee ligament issue.
Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney both late fitness tests ahead of the trip to Eastern Europe, although Dedryck Boyata could be involved again after reportedly refusing to play as he pushes for a transfer.
Celtic clean sheet
It is perhaps understandable why Brendan Rodgers would be willing to forgive Boyata and return him to the line-up given recent defensive performances, with his side having conceded in each of the last five fixtures.
Nevertheless, they are unlikely to be too troubled by an opposition attack that has managed just a single goal in their previous five European matches, and failed to score in six of eight going further back.
Predictions
Having kept a clean sheet in each of their four European games this summer prior to the tricky AEK Athens tie, Celtic are worth backing at even odds (2.00) to return to form and win to nil against a limited Suduva team.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
Celtic to win to nil for a 2pt stake at Evens (2.00) with bet365
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