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Leverkusen logo
Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 25, 2021 at 5.45pm UK
BayArena
Celtic logo

B. Leverkusen
3 - 2
Celtic

Andrich (16', 82'), Diaby (87')
Palacios (33'), Hradecky (39')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Juranovic (40' pen.), Jota (56')
Carter-Vickers (69')

Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Celtic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to secure all three points and qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League when they host Celtic in their penultimate Group G encounter on Thursday evening.

The Hoops, meanwhile, could move into the top two with a victory at the BayArena, if Real Betis were to drop points against Ferencvaros.


Match preview

Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah and Moussa Diaby celebrate with teammates on November 4, 2021© Reuters

After a difficult spell of five games without a win across all competitions, Bayer Leverkusen have since claimed two victories and a draw from their next three matches, which has provided a much-needed boost for Gerardo Seoane's men.

An impressive 4-0 win against Real Betis in their most recent Europa League game was followed by a 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin and a narrow 1-0 victory at home against VfL Bochum last weekend.

The Eternal Bridesmaids currently sit fourth in the Bundesliga, and are also leading the way in Group G, sitting three points clear of Betis with two fixtures remaining.

Leverkusen have enjoyed their Europa League campaign so far, accumulating 10 points from a possible 12 available and scoring 11 goals in the process, which can only be bettered by Lyon in this year's competition.

Four of those goals were scored at Parkhead in September, as Seoane's side cruised to a 4-0 victory against Celtic in their first ever meeting against the Scottish giants.

Leverkusen head into Thursday's game unbeaten in their last 14 Europa League group-stage matches at home, and a victory at the BayArena would see them qualify for the last 32 as Group G winners.

Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring their first goal with Jota on October 19, 2021© Reuters

Celtic extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to nine matches when they beat St Johnstone 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals last weekend.

A 73rd-minute strike from James Forrest booked their place in the final for the sixth time in eight years, where they will face Hibernian at Hampden Park on December 19.

Ange Postecoglou's men now turn their attention to Thursday's crucial Europa League clash with Leverkusen, a match they cannot afford to lose if Real Betis beat Ferencvaros.

The Hoops, however, travel to the BayArena having lost six of their last seven UEFA Cup or Europa League away games in Germany – their most recent was a 2-0 loss to RB Leipzig in October 2018.

After losing their opening two Europa League matches this term, conceding four goals against both Betis and Leverkusen, Celtic have since secured maximum points in home and away fixtures against Ferencvaros, which has boosted their chances of securing a top-two place in Group G.

The Hoops currently sit third in the group, just one point behind Betis, but a victory in midweek would ensure they are at least still fighting for last-32 qualification in their final match against the Spanish side next month.

Bayer Leverkusen Europa League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W

Celtic Europa League form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W

Celtic form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W


Team News

Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz pictured on September 16, 2021© Reuters

Bayer Leverkusen will be without Patrick Schick (ankle), Charles Aranguiz (calf), Mitchel Bakker (ankle), Julian Baumgartlinger (knee) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (knee) due to injury, while Lucas Alario and Karim Bellarabi are both doubtful.

Midfielder Kerem Demirbay will serve a one-match suspension following his red card against Betis last time out, so Exequiel Palacios is set to be handed a start alongside Robert Andrich.

Former Celtic right-back Jeremie Frimpong is expected to start in the back four alongside Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie, while teenage starlet Florian Wirtz will likely operate in the number 10 role behind forward Amine Adli.

As for Celtic, Christopher Jullien (knee), Carl Starfelt (hamstring), Tom Rogic (hamstring), Greg Taylor (shoulder) and Karamoko Dembele (ankle) all remain sidelined with injuries.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers is one booking away from a suspension, but he is expected to start alongside Stephen Welsh at centre-back, shielding goalkeeper Joe Hart.

After scoring at the weekend, Forrest will be hoping to force his way into the first XI ahead of either Liel Abada or Jota, while Kyogo Furuhashi is set to lead the line as the central striker.

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Diaby, Andrich, Palacios, Amiri; Wirtz; Adli

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Ralston, Welsh, Carter-Vickers, Juranovic; Bitton, McGregor, Turnbull; Forrest, Furuhashi, Jota


SM words green background

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Celtic

Celtic were well beaten against Leverkusen in September, but with the hosts to be without a few key players on Thursday, a closer affair could be on the cards this time around.

Nevertheless, the Germans will be the favourites for this contest and still have enough quality in their squad to secure all three points at the BayArena.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Bayer Leverkusen win with a probability of 43.42%. A win for Celtic had a probability of 34.64% and a draw had a probability of 21.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Bayer Leverkusen win was 2-1 with a probability of 8.46%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (5.34%) and 3-1 (5.34%). The likeliest Celtic win was 1-2 (7.5%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (8.95%). The actual scoreline of 3-2 was predicted with a 4.5% likelihood. Our team at Sports Mole and our data analysis both correctly predicted that Bayer Leverkusen would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: B. Leverkusen vs Celtic

Bayer Leverkusen
78.4%
Draw
11.4%
Celtic
10.3%
185
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

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QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

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QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

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QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

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QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

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QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

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QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
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Group H

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QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


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