MX23RW : Sunday, November 3 23:22:44| >> :120:8235:8235:
[monks data]
Celtic logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 11, 2022 at 8pm UK
Celtic Park
Leipzig logo

Celtic
0 - 2
RB Leipzig


Hatate (34'), Juranovic (90+1')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Werner (75'), Forsberg (84')

Celtic's Ange Postecoglou provides Jota fitness update ahead of RB Leipzig clash

Postecoglou provides Jota fitness update ahead of Leipzig clash
© Reuters
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou confirms that Jota is a doubt for Tuesday's Champions League contest at home against RB Leipzig.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Jota is a doubt for Tuesday's Champions League contest against RB Leipzig.

The 23-year-old was taken off at half time in Celtic's 2-1 Scottish Premiership win away at St Johnstone on Saturday, with Postecoglou stating after the game that the attacker was replaced due to fatigue.

"There was a bit of fatigue there, and we were never going to give him too many minutes," the Australian boss told Sky Sports News.

"Again, he has been carrying a heavy load with a few games in the stretch and we thought we would take him off at half time."

Jota has since missed first-team training with the Celtic squad on Monday morning ahead of their clash with Leipzig at Parkhead, and Postecoglou is not prepared to risk the Portugal Under-21 international if he is not fully fit.

Celtic's Jota celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on July 31, 2022© Reuters

Speaking at a press conference, Postecoglou said: "It comes down to whether we think he can play or not. With all the players, they are all important in different ways.

"With the short turnaround it's not unusual for someone not to be right the day before a game when we've got such a quick turnaround.

"It's just about whether he's right or not. If he's right we'll play him – if not he'll miss out."

Jota has been a standout performer for the Hoops so far this season, scoring five goals and registering five assists in 12 games across all competitions, including a strike in the 3-1 defeat at Leipzig last week.

Celtic are already having to cope without captain Callum McGregor, who is ruled out until after the World Cup with a knee injury, while Carl Starfelt is also recovering from a knee issue of his own, but he could return before the end of the month.

Despite the potential absence of three first-team players, the Hoops were provided with a double injury boost on Monday as David Turnbull and Yosuke Ideguchi were both spotted training with their teammates at Lennoxtown.

Turnbull missed the win over St Johnstone due to tonsillitis, while Ideguchi – who has not been selected in Celtic's Champions League squad – is yet to play this season since sustaining a knee problem in training over the summer.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglu on September 14, 2022© Reuters

Celtic currently sit rock bottom of Group F with just one point from three games at the halfway stage, but a victory against their German counterparts on Tuesday could propel them back into contention for a place in the Champions League knockout rounds.

Postecoglou feels that there were positives to take from the defeat against Leipzig last week and believes that his side "can hurt" the Bundesliga club in the return fixture on Tuesday.

"I think you saw last week for most of the game if was pretty evenly matches up until they scored the second goal," the 57-year-old added. "Chances were fairly even with both teams, we had similar types of chances with quick transition movements.

"They've definitely got some strengths that we've got to be wary of, but I think we showed enough last week that we also have ways that he can hurt them as well."

Celtic's only win in three meetings against Leipzig came on home soil in November 2018 when they secured a 2-1 victory in the Europa League group stage.

ID:496618:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5017:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Ange Postecoglou

Click here for more stories about Celtic

Game History

How you voted: Celtic vs RB Leipzig

Celtic
28.9%
Draw
13.0%
RB Leipzig
58.1%
353
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane scores against Viktoria Plzen on October 4, 2022
Read Next:
Champions League Team of the Week - Silva, Bellingham, Mane
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Raiders
24-41
Bengals
FT
Dolphins
27-30
Bills
FT
Chargers
27-10
Browns
FT
Cowboys
21-27
Falcons
FT
Washington
27-22
Giants
FT
Saints
22-23
Panthers
FT
Broncos
10-41
Ravens
FT
Patriots
17-20
Titans
9.05pm
Bears
@
Cardinals
9.05pm
Jags
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Lions
@
Packers
9.25pm
Rams
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Aston Villa33009
2Liverpool33009
3Man City32107
4B. Leverkusen32107
5Brest32107
6Inter Milan32107
7Monaco32107
8Sporting Lisbon32107
9Arsenal32107
10Real Madrid32016
11Lille32016
12Feyenoord32016
13Barcelona32016
14Dortmund32016
15Benfica32016
16Juventus32016
17Atalanta31205
18Stuttgart31114
19Sparta Prague31114
20PSG31114
21Celtic31114
22Dinamo Zagreb31114
23AC Milan31023
24Bayern31023
25Girona31023
26Brugge31023
27Atletico31023
28PSV30212
29Bologna30121
30Shakhtar30121
31RB Leipzig30030
32Sturm Graz30030
33Salzburg30030
34Red Star30030
35Young Boys30030
36Slovan Bratislava30030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!