The meeting of Celtic and RB Leipzig this Wednesday implies much more than one Champions League group stage match. Both clubs, each with different journeys, meet with a desperate need to keep their seasons' European aspirations alive. On one corner is Leipzig, still looking for the first points but giving a good fight against Europe's giants, while on the other corner is Celtic with experience, rebuilding morale after recent heavy defeats.
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Leipzig: Coherence without Results
The Leipzig campaign in this Champions League season can, until now, read zero points, but it has unveiled a team that so far has given no breaks to their opponents. Three games and three defeats, each with a context that shouldn't be avoided. The Germans only lost by one goal against three great teams like Atlético Madrid, Juventus, and Liverpool. That is not small praise in a Champions League that forgives few uneven performances. Leipzig fights hard, pushes through, and ultimately hits small details that have cost them precious points.
Coach Marco Rose has his challenges cut for him. Most specifically, in this crucial match, he will be without talented Xavi Simons, who is out until January. Adding to that, David Raum and Xaver Schlager are also unavailable, which will enforce huge adjustments in strategy. This puts much responsibility on players like Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, the heart of Leipzig's attack. Šeško is having a brilliant season, with three in the Champions League and seven overall thus far. With Xavi out, creativity in midfield rests on Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa, who will have to pull back and create more opportunities for their striking duo.
Celtic: Local Dominance, European Struggles
Celtic sits atop the Scottish Premiership, having been unbeaten in ten rounds, whereas in Europe, it has been lukewarm. Subsequent to their Champions campaign opening win over Slovan Bratislava, they were denounced into next week by Borussia Dortmund in a 7-1 defeat, and then managed to draw a scoreless match with Atalanta. As such, the inconsistency is clear.
This will be a welcome relief for the Celtic coach, Brendan Rodgers, in a competition where injuries derail the plans. Meanwhile, with Daizen Maeda ready to test Leipzig's backline, Celtic want to set the rhythm with the top scorer in the team and are eager to collect vital points from the visiting side in this decider. Maeda is their real attacking force, and with nine goals this season, he will come up against a well-organized Leipzig defense, supported in midfield by the likes of Arne Engels.
Šeško and Openda: Leipzig's Gold Pair
Much of Leipzig's hope lies with their frontline. Šeško and Openda have been the most consistent pairing for the team. Both of them pose a big threat to Celtic with seven goals this season, three in the Champions League, something Šeško will be looking to improve upon. He will be required to bring his A-game up front, along with his finishing in the box, if Leipzig hopes to breach a Celtic defense that has shown weaknesses against Bundesliga opponents.
Openda, with six goals, has been Šeško's reliable partner in crime, opening up shop and testing opponents' backlines. There is an evident degree of understanding between the duo, and Marco Rose should look to utilize them as often as he can. How will he do it? Against a Celtic that tends to shut close and tight away from home but on occasions simply can't cope when tightened in deep.
Celtic's Struggles Against German Clubs
Celtic don't have too much to smile about in very recent history against Bundesliga teams, five on the bounce have been losses, including that painful 7-1 defeat to Dortmund recently. They are not enviable at home in Champions League level too, with only two wins of the last 14 home matches. Sometimes history does not decide matches, but these statistics can at least pull on confidence a bit. With pressure mounting, Rodgers and his team may finally get the shove they need to break this recurring cycle with a positive result.
Marco Rose vs Brendan Rodgers
The big challenge for Leipzig will be to keep the intensity and competitiveness they have shown so far, this time turning that into points. Without Xavi Simons, the team might lack fluency, but Rose has options to turn to, with his team eager and Šeško and Openda at their best. If a game plan needs refinement to prevent little mistakes that have proved expensive in recent weeks, then so be it.
For Rodgers, though, it is more mental than physical. Celtic's European season has been a rollercoaster ride with ups and downs. They have got to prove that they are not second to any of the best teams in Europe. With Maeda in good form and a fit squad, what the Scottish coach needs is only to find a proper balance between defense and offense to avoid the recent mishaps.
What's at Stake?
For Leipzig, one point is just not enough. The team has to win to keep their Champions League hopes alive in this home encounter with their slight advantage in head-to-head history. They have met Celtic four times, where they won three and drew one-the numbers which should inspire the German side, while giving Celtic something to prove.
Every point will count for Celtic. Their hopes of going through depend on a fine away performance, and a win in Leipzig could bring much-needed momentum in further encounters. It would be more than a testament that they can discard the inconsistent Europe tag, especially against German teams.