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Celtic vs Astana Preview

By Conall McCourt

CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: The Champions League Trophy is seen prior to the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: The Champions League Trophy is seen prior to the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Leigh Griffiths declared ‘fully fit’ as Celtic set for crunch European tie with Astana .

Brendan Rodgers has received a huge boost on the eve of his side’s crucial game with Kazakhstan league leaders Astana.

The hoops hitman Leigh Griffiths has declared himself “fully fit and raring to go” and says he has been since Friday’s clash with Partick Thistle. The Scot was speaking today to the media and was discussing just how much making the group stages of the Champions League means to the team.

"“It makes or breaks our season, getting into the Champions League. Last season it gave us a great platform."

Griffiths scored in both legs in this fixture last season along with Moussa Dembele who is still sidelined through injury. Celtic won last years fixture 3-2 on aggregate and Griffiths is hoping that they can have a similar scoreline this time around.

"“We were in a difficult group [finishing last behind Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Mönchengladbach] but just making it after two disappointing years was massive for everybody involved.”"

Defenders Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko will join Moussa Dembele on the sidleline which will mean that midfielder Nir Bitton will almost certainly play in central defense for tomorrows game.

Astana

Astana currently sit atop the Kazakhstan premier league. Like Celtic, they have won the league consecutively for the past four seasons. They will be without center forward Dorde Despotovic while Marin Anicic is also a doubt. Central defender Yevgeny Postnikov has been declared fit to play.

MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 21: Yeldos Akhmetov (2ndL) of FC Astana claps to his fans surrounded by Junior Kabananga (L) and Zhakyp Kozhamberdy (R) after loosing the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Astana at Vicente Calderon stadium on October 21, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 21: Yeldos Akhmetov (2ndL) of FC Astana claps to his fans surrounded by Junior Kabananga (L) and Zhakyp Kozhamberdy (R) after loosing the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Astana at Vicente Calderon stadium on October 21, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /

Match details:

Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow

When: Wednesday August 16th 7:45pm BST/ 2:45pm ET

How to watch/listen:

  • BT Sport 2 (UK & Ireland)
  • RTE 2 ( UK & Ireland)
  • Celtic TV (USA/International)
  • Fox Sports 2 (USA)
  • BBC Radio Scotland

Need to know

  • Celtic go in to this game on the back of a 51 game domestic unbeaten run. The last defeat for the hoops came in European competition last season against Barcelona.
  • Astana are unbeaten in 3 games. Their last defeat came against Legia Warsaw in the last round of the Champions league

Next: 3 takeaways from Celtic's win at Firhill

  • Lat years fixture at Celtic park ended 2-1. The goals coming from Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele.
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