Celtic will continue their preparations for their 2023-24 campaign with a pre-season friendly against Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka on Saturday.
The Scottish giants were involved in a 10-goal thriller with Yokohama F Marinos in their last pre-season contest, ultimately suffering a 6-4 defeat, while Gamba Osaka are 21 matches into their domestic campaign, currently sitting 13th in the J1 League table.
Match preview
Gamba Osaka are 21 games deep into their J1 League campaign, picking up 26 points, which has left them in 13th position in the table, boasting a record of seven wins, five draws and nine defeats.
The Black and Blues will now take time out of their league schedule to tackle Celtic in a friendly, and the home side will enter this match in excellent form, winning five of their last six matches in all competitions.
Dani Poyatos's side recorded a 3-1 victory over Kashiwa Reysol in their last match, and they will be back in league action against Kawasaki Frontale on August 6.
Gamba Osaka have won the J1 League on two previous occasions, with their last success coming in 2014, but a disappointing 2022 campaign saw them finish in 15th position.
There are no points or prizes on offer in Saturday's contest, but it will provide the Japanese outfit with the opportunity to face one of the most established teams in European football.
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Celtic will round off their tour of Japan on Saturday, and they will enter this match off the back of a 6-4 defeat to Yokohama F Marinos, with Daizen Maeda netting a hat-trick for the Scottish giants.
Brendan Rodgers's side have also faced Fraserburgh during pre-season, beating the Scottish side on penalties following a goalless draw, before taking on Portimonense on two separate occasions over the space of three days, drawing 0-0 before thumping the Portuguese outfit 4-1.
Celtic will also take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in a pre-season friendly on July 29 before rounding off their preparations for the new season against Athletic Bilbao on August 1.
The Hoops will open their 2023-24 Scottish Premiership campaign at home to Ross County on August 5, before travelling to Aberdeen in their second match of the season.
Celtic, who claimed 99 points from their 38 Scottish Premiership matches last season to win the title, have made four signings this summer, bringing in Odin Thiago Holm, Yang Hyun-jun, Marco Tilio and Tomoki Iwata.
Team News
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Gamba Osaka head coach Algaba is expected to name a strong side for this match, but he will also hand fringe players opportunities to impress.
Dawhan has been the team's main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on six occasions, and the midfielder should be included in the starting side.
There is also likely to be a position in the team for Juan Alano, who has five goals in all competitions this term, and Issam Jebali at the tip of the attack.
As expected, Celtic boss Rodgers made full use of his squad against Yokohama F Marinos and that is again set to be the case in the clash with Gamba Osaka.
Maeda played 67 minutes of the team's last match and should again be in the starting side, while David Turnbull, who scored Celtic's fourth against Yokohama F Marinos, could also be in the XI.
Liel Abada may also feature from the first whistle, while Sead Haksabanovic is also likely to be named in the team that takes to the field for the opening kick.
Gamba Osaka possible starting lineup:
Higashiguchi; Takao, Fukuoka, Kwung-Won, Kurokawa; Yamamoto, Lavi, Dawhan; Meshino, Jebali, Alano
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Scales, Taylor, Starfelt, Kobayashi; Haksabanovic, McGregor, Turnbull; Abada, Maeda, Furuhashi
We say: Gamba Osaka 2-2 Celtic
Celtic were involved in a 10-goal thriller in their last match, and we are expecting another entertaining contest on Saturday. Gamba Osaka, in theory, should be fitter than their opponents, and we are backing the Japanese outfit to claim a share of the spoils in this pre-season clash.
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Matt Law
