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January 20 2025, 15:34 · Alex Lawes
Updated: January 21 2025, 15:12

Celtic vs Young Boys Preview: Team News & Prediction

Celtic vs Young Boys Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic have a chance of securing a top 24 finish and UEFA Champions League knockout football for the first time in over a decade with a win against Young Boys this week.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 22nd January, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Celtic Team News: Steady and stable

Brendan Rodgers is known for his fluidity in switching between tactical systems and styles but he is expected to go with his tried and trusted 4-3-3 with Celtic having more or less a fully fit squad, albeit James Forrest remains sidelined due to a foot injury.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Furuhashi, Maeda

Unavailable: Forrest (Injured)

Questionable: 

Young Boys Team News: Still no Janko

Former Rangers striker Cedric Itten is set to lead the Young Boys’ line as the Swiss champions travel to Celtic Park this week. However, they remain without former Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United man Saidy Janko due to a back injury.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Keller; Blum, Athekame, Benito, Hadjam; Urginic, Lakomy; Males, Colley, Monteiro; Itten

Unavailable: Janko (Injured)

Questionable: Conte (Injured)

Key Stats

  • The only previous UEFA club competition meetings between these two teams were in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup first round when a 0-0 first leg draw in Switzerland was followed by a 1-0 win for Celtic in extra-time in the second leg.
  • Celtic have won eight and drawn one of their nine UEFA club competition matches at home against Swiss clubs.
  • Celtic have lost only four of their previous 18 UEFA club competition matches against Swiss teams (W11 D3).
  • Celtic have kept six clean sheets in their nine UEFA club competition matches at home against Swiss clubs.
  • Celtic are unbeaten in their last four matches in the UEFA Champions League proper (W1 D3). This is their longest run without defeat in the UEFA Champions League era (excluding qualifying)
  • Celtic have lost only one of their last seven UEFA Champions League matches (W3 D3).
  • Celtic have won three and drawn two of their last five UEFA Champions League matches at home.
  • Celtic have lost only one of their last 25 competitive matches (W17 D7).
  • Young Boys have drawn three of their last five UEFA club competition matches against Scottish teams (W1 L1).
  • Young Boys have lost their last seven matches in the UEFA Champions League proper. This is their longest sequence of successive defeats in the competition.
  • Young Boys have won only one of their last 17 matches in the UEFA Champions League proper (D3 L13).
  • Young Boys are without a win in their previous 12 matches away from home in the UEFA Champions League proper (D2 L10).

Celtic vs Young Boys Prediction

Celtic were left frustrated by a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge last month but the Bhoys remain in an excellent position to secure knockout playoff football. They have suffered just one defeat, away to last season’s UEFA Champions League runners’ up Borussia Dortmund, in their six matches. They now face a Young Boys side that have endured a miserable campaign both domestically and in this tournament as they begin the seventh match day of the tournament sitting rock-bottom of the 36-team table with three goals scored and 22 goals conceded in their six defeats from six. Celtic should win and will fancy their chances of winning quite comfortably at Parkhead.

Celtic vs Young Boys Tip: Celtic to win -1 handicap