Atletico Madrid vs Celtic Predictions & Match Preview

Atletico Madrid is determined to seize the top position in Group E from Feyenoord when they host Celtic at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday evening.

Los Rojiblancos already defeated Feyenoord in their first home game of the campaign and are considered favorites to secure a victory over the Hoops.

Unfortunately, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul will serve a one-game suspension, and Samuel Lino, Thomas Lemar, and Memphis Depay are all unavailable due to injuries.

On the other hand, the Scottish champions find themselves at the bottom of Group E with only one point to their name. Given Atletico Madrid’s formidable home record, it’s anticipated that Brendan Rodgers’ team will leave Madrid empty-handed.

Abada, Hatate, McCarthy, Tilio, and Welsh are sidelined due to injuries for the away team, while key attacker Kyogo Furuhashi is expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested in a 3-0 win over Ross County during the weekend.

Team News:

Once again, Atletico Madrid will deploy a potent attacking duo on Tuesday night, with Alvaro Morata partnering Antoine Griezmann, who has found the net eight times in his last nine club appearances. Although Griezmann has scored 32 goals in 88 Champions League matches, he has yet to score in his last three outings. However, he will seek to rectify this against Celtic. Meanwhile, Morata has bagged three goals in his last two Champions League matches, surpassing his total from the previous 16.

Memphis Depay will be absent once more, while Samuel Lino has been sidelined with a knee injury since mid-October, and Thomas Lemar (Achilles) won’t be available until next year. Rodrigo De Paul is suspended following his dismissal in the previous match.

Celtic’s Reo Hatate, who recently returned from a calf problem, will miss the rest of the group stage after suffering a hamstring injury early in the October reverse fixture. Stephen Welsh and Liel Abada are also on the treatment table. The only likely change for the visitors could be David Turnbull or Benfica loanee Paulo Bernardo replacing Hatate in the starting XI.

Upfront, Kyogo Furuhashi has scored in both of his last two Champions League matches. Another goal in the upcoming game would make him the first Celtic player to score in three consecutive European Cup or Champions League appearances since Joseph Craig in 1977.