Celtic host Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park in their first league phase fixture of 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.
With both teams not expected to fight for automatic qualification for the Round of 16, victory is imperative for their chances of reaching the knockout play-offs.
Team News
Celtic have no fresh injury concerns to report with only defender, Maik Nawrocki ruled out with a calf injury.
Slovan Bratislava will be without Lukas Pauschek due to a shoulder injury suffered in early August.
When is Kick-Off?
Celtic host Slovan Bratislava at 8pm BST on Wednesday 18 September at Celtic Park, live on TNT Sport 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Celtic won both previous meetings against Slovan Bratislava by a 1-0 result in Quarter-Finals of 1963-64 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (W2).
- Slovan Bratislava lost 1-0 on their only previous visit to Celtic in February 1964 (L1).
- Celtic are yet to concede against Slovan Bratislava.
- Celtic have kept five clean sheets in six matches in all competitions this season (W6).
- Slovan Bratislava won one of their four away matches in the Qualifying phase (W1, D3).
Prediction
Unbeaten in all competitions this season but with a poor record at the old Group Stage in UEFA competitions in recent years, this revamped format could suit Celtic slightly more but they need to be clinical yet resilient if want a winning start.
Slovan Bratislava though are no pushovers and were unbeaten on the road in the Qualifying phase, yet they will need to be at their best and defend well to get a result over Brendan Rogers’ Hoops.
This match could therefore be finely-poised but given Celtic’s start to the season, I fancy them to have the edge.
Prediction: Celtic 1-0 Slovan Bratislava
Result: Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava