How will Celtic line up against KR Reykjavik?

Celtic fans will be happy as the club returns to action against KR Reykjavik in the UEFA Champions League Qualifiers. Here is how we predict they’ll line up.

Celtic fans may be missing out from the postponed games, but the Hoops are back in action on Tuesday. That means it’s time to start considering the starting line up for the all important Champions League qualifier and one off tie at home against KR Reykjavik.

Neil Lennon has spoken via the Celtic official site about the tie and is keen to make a good start:

"“It’s one leg so we’re going to have to try and hit our peak and make sure we get the job done. It’ll be difficult, there’s a lot of tension that goes into these games, but it’s important to try and negotiate these ties and get Champions League football.”"

KR Reykjavik manager Runar Kristinsson has already expressed his worries about his team’s form and selection problems due to injuries.

Lennon doesn’t have too many injury problems ahead of the match, Griffiths and Johnson are the main two ruled out. He’ll still be working out some selection thoughts, formations and tactics. Some players like Odosnne Edouard will be obvious starters, he’s already crossed out Boli Bolingoli from the lineup and bench and probably everywhere else! But there are plenty of other variations and players to consider.

Celtic’s pre-season matches against Nice, Lyon and Hibernian provide some clues about first team positions and formations, however the Icelandic team may mean Lennon can allow some different thoughts for this round. And he’s got Albian Ajeti signed as a further variation from those early games. Though Lennon today said he’s not yet ready to start.

Let’s take a look at a couple of possible Celtic starting line ups we might see on Tuesday. Everyone will have their own opinions, it’s Lennon’s that will matter in the end though.

Celtic’s most likely line up 4-5-1

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This feels the more likely Celtic starting line up for Tuesday’s match. Much as you might expect, no radical changes and relatively safe. Although plenty to debate especially after the Kilmarnock match.

Barkas in goal would be expected, it’s what he was brought to the club for.

A back four, you’d expect Christopher Jullien to have a better match than against Kilmarnock and both Greg Taylor and Jeremie Frimpong would expect to get forward a lot to help dominate at the top end of the pitch.

In midfield it’s the standard Scott Brown, Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and James Forrest plus Mohamed Elyounoussi and possibly where we’d see most debate. Brown hasn’t been on great form, but his leadership at this difficult time will likely see him through. Christie has been a bit hit and miss as has Forrest over recent games, but they are both players for the big occasion and are likely to edge ahead of Olivier Ntcham for this particular tie. Expect to see Ntcham feature from the bench at some point though. McGregor, there’s surely no debate whatsoever about Callum starting.

Edouard up front is another no brainer, the decision being about formation and positions and whether Celtic should revert to two up front instead. For now, with the skills of the midfield as a supply for Edouard, this should be plenty to get safely past KR Reykjavik. With Ajeti needing a bit more time post holiday and his signing to gain match fitness and settle in, he may well still make the bench.

A three at the back formation instead

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An alternative Celtic formation perhaps sees a return to the post winter break teams with three at the back allowing a second forward either as a 3-5-1-1 or 3-5-2 set up. This means some interesting decisions in terms of selection.

For the back three, in the absence of  Jozo Simunovic from the post winter set up, Hatem Abd Elhamed is the most likely addition alongside Jullien and Ajer. If Lennon retains his usual selection preference for Forrest, then perhaps Frimpong has to drop to the bench. He’d be another likely to make an appearance at some stage and rampage up the wing in the later stages of the match.

This all allows a front pairing and may be a slot for Ajeti if he does come on later in the game to feature up front with Edouard and to rekindle his on pitch relationship with Elyounoussi. If fit, if available, if ready. To begin though we could see a mix of Elyounoussi, Christie or maybe even Klimala in with Edouard. Klimala could be interesting but is possibly a step too brave for a starting 11. It does offer a few variations in personnel.

We might be more likely to see Christie pushed forward, Rogic would have been ideal there if fit and ready. Christie could do well there and brings N’tcham into the midfield with Forrest there for the width.

Lennon has been very supportive of a 3 at the back formation and it’s been successful for him. It’s by no means unlikely, especially if he felt the need to shake things up a bit in a tie where he should be able to make changes. If he doesn’t start with 3 at the back, we can perhaps expect to see a move to that formation during the match at some point.

With Patryk Klimala, Karamoko Dembele and perhaps Albian Ajeti or Tom Rogic amongst others on a possible Celtic bench there are plenty of opportunities to freshen things up, alter formations and approach and seal the tie successfully.