Celtic will know heading into the game vs RB Leipzig that they cannot afford to lose. Otherwise, they will be left on one point from their first three group stage games in the Champions League, with an away trip to Real Madrid still to go. Thus, their hopes of making it to the knockout phase would be left on the brink of being over.
At the same time, if they can win away in Germany, then they will give themselves a major boost. RB Leipzig are yet to open their account this season and losing to the Hoops would be a huge blow for them and their own chances of making it out of the group.
Thus, this is expected to be a very tight game with a lot riding on the result. So, Celtic would have surely been hoping to have their best squad available for it. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case.
Four Celtic players are confirmed to be out of the game vs RB Leipzig. As reported by Football Scotland, Ange Postecoglou said:
"“In terms of outs, Cameron wasn’t 100 per cent so he’s not with the team and Liel Abada didn’t travel and obviously Carl Starfelt and Aaron Mooy had a bit of a niggle in training so we left him behind.”"
Four Celtic players have been ruled out vs RB Leipzig
These are some huge misses for Celtic to say the least. Other than Mooy, the rest of them could have staked a claim for starting spots on the night if they were available.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt were the club’s first choice centre-back duo last season. And we have seen the combination of Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz struggle. That might be the biggest concern for Celtic against RB Leipzig, with the German side having attackers like Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner in their ranks.
On the other hand, with Daizen Maeda struggling in front of goal, Abada would have a pretty good chance of making the starting XI himself. Mooy is yet to prove himself though and might not have started anyway.