Headline: Celtic Aims for European Redemption Against Beşiktaş in Upcoming Europa League Clash
Celtic faces a crucial test in the UEFA Europa League this Thursday as they seek to turn their fortunes around against Beşiktaş, who arrive in Glasgow in strong form. While Celtic has yet to secure a single point in the competition, Beşiktaş remains unbeaten after three matches, adding to the pressure at Celtic Park.
Celtic has had a challenging start to the Europa League phase, suffering defeats against Ferencváros, Benfica, and Celta Vigo, with a dismal record of three goals scored and nine conceded. This has placed them 35th out of 36 teams in the standings. Their woes continued with a 2-0 loss to Falkirk last Sunday, intensifying the stakes for their next match.
In contrast, Beşiktaş has performed well, amassing seven points after defeating Marseille 4-1, winning 3-2 at Hoffenheim, and drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace. While their domestic form has been inconsistent, their European performance appears robust, highlighted by striker Dušan Vlahović’s contributions.
Celtic cannot afford another loss. A fourth consecutive defeat would severely jeopardize their chances of advancing to the knockout stages, whereas Beşiktaş has the opportunity to solidify their position in the league phase.
Regarding team updates, Celtic will be without Alistair Johnston, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury, and Yang Hyun-jun, who is unlikely to return after missing several matches. Kieran Tierney, who picked up a knock against Falkirk, will be assessed before the match but may still play. Cameron Carter-Vickers is back in contention after featuring in the Falkirk match. Key player Jota is unavailable as he was not included in Celtic’s Europa League squad.
The expected Celtic lineup includes Sam Johnstone in goal, with Colby Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, and possibly Tierney in defense. Callum McGregor should lead the midfield alongside either Arne Engels or Paulo Bernardo, while Benjamin Nygren, Sebastian Tounekti, and Haissem Hassan are potential support for striker Kasper Høgh.
On the other hand, Beşiktaş will miss Orkun Kökçü due to a heel injury and Fabio Miretti due to a shoulder issue, while Ümit Akdağ is suspended following a red card. Václav Černý has recovered from a knee injury and will be assessed alongside other players before the game. Alexander Nübel is anticipated to start in goal, supported by a defense that includes Amir Murillo, Emmanuel Agbadou, Emirhan Topçu, and Rıdvan Yılmaz. Wyffrd Ndidi aims to anchor the midfield, with Černý, Milot Rashica, and Ernest Muçi providing support to Vlahović, who is expected to be a significant threat.
Probable Lineups:
Celtic (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels; Hassan, Nygren, Tounekti; Høgh.
Beşiktaş (4-1-4-1): Nübel; Murillo, Agbadou, Topçu, Yılmaz; Ndidi; Černý, Özcan, Olaitan, Trossard; Vlahović.
How to Watch Celtic vs Beşiktaş Today:
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| USA | Paramount+ (English) / ViX (Spanish) |
| Canada | DAZN |
| UK | TNT Sports 3 |
| Turkey | TRT 1 |
Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. UK / 9 p.m. CET / 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 5, at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
