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Inter logo
Europa League | Round-Of-32
Feb 26, 2015 at 6pm UK
 
Celtic logo

1-0

Guarin (88')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Celtic

Sports Mole previews Celtic's Europa League trip to Inter Milan, with the scores currently at 3-3 following a thrilling first leg of their last-32 tie at Parkhead.

Thursday could be another famous European night in Celtic's history as they travel to Italy for the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with Inter Milan.

If last week's first leg is anything to go by then San Siro could be in for an exciting evening. Celtic came from two down and then equalised in stoppage time to salvage a 3-3 draw to take to the home of the three-time European champions.

The Bhoys were shellshocked when Xherdan Shaqiri and Rodrigo Palacio gave Inter a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes, but a Stuart Armstrong strike and an own goal just a minute later saw the Scottish champions regain parity.

Roberto Mancini's side bagged a third away goal on the stroke of half time through Palacio, but Celtic's spirit was not broken and John Guidetti's 91st-minute volley kept them in the running ahead of tomorrow night.

Ronny Deila resisted the temptation to rest players at the weekend as his side thrashed Hamilton Academical 4-0 to stay top of the Scottish Premiership, and will hope that they can take that momentum into another big game.

The Celtic manager may still make a couple of changes, however, with Jason Denayer an injury doubt. Adam Matthews is on standby to return to the lineup, with Efe Ambrose shifting inside to cover in central defence.

Armstrong is also likely to get the nod after his first-leg performance and therefore James Forrest's place appears to be in jeopardy. Mikael Lustig and Charlie Mulgrew remain injured, but Kris Commons is fit and firing again.

The influential winger scored two against the Accies to prove to Deila that he has fully overcome the thigh problem that forced him to sit out Inter's visit to Glasgow, and should start at the expense of Gary Mackay-Steven.

Milan are unbeaten in the Europa League this season, keeping six clean sheets in eight games, and thus would have been disappointed that their usually-reliable defence let them down to weaken their grip on the tie.

Andrea Ranocchia paid the penalty for his poor display as he was dropped for the 2-1 Serie A victory over Cagliari on Monday. Nemanja Vidic replaced him and the former Manchester United captain may keep his place.

Lukas Podolski and Marcelo Brozovic are ineligible and so Mancini will revert to first-leg goalscorers Shaqiri and Palacio in attack. Jonathan, Yuto Nagatomo and Samir Handanovic are among Inter's injury absentees.

Celtic have never lost to the Italian giants in European competition, with the last three meetings having been drawn. They must win or score at least three goals to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Inter:

Form in Europa League: WDDWDD
Form in all competitions: LLWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Carizzo; Campagnaro, Juan Jesus, Vidic, Santon; Medel, Kovacic, Guarin; Shaqiri, Palacio, Icardi

Celtic:

Form in Europa League: WWDLLDL
Form in all competitions: WWWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Gordon; Mathews, Van Dijk, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Commons, Johansen, Armstrong; Guidetti

Sports Mole says: 3-1


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Inter Milan's Argentinan forward Rodrigo Palacio (C) celebrates scoring their third goal against Celtic on February 19, 2015
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