Celtic vs Astana. UEFA Champions League Qualifying Play-Offs Round.
Celtic ParkAttendance54,016.
Wednesday 16 August 2017 18:44, UK
Brendan Rodgers trusts his Celtic squad to book their place in the Champions League group stages without Patrick Roberts.
The Manchester City winger remains top of the Hoops manager's wish-list following his outstanding 18-month loan stint at Parkhead.
Celtic remain in talks over a fresh loan deal and, according to reports, Roberts has made it clear he favours a return to Glasgow.
Roberts flew out to Spain for a training camp with City on Monday but Rodgers was showing little sign of angst hours before the 11pm deadline to add to his Champions League squad ahead of Wednesday's play-off, first leg against Astana.
"Patrick's situation is pretty clear," Rodgers said. "He's out with Manchester City at the moment. We have a number of targets we're looking at but there is nothing to report on any specific player.
"For any player the deadline is 11 o'clock tonight but I'm quite relaxed. We know what we want."
On a positive note for Rodgers, however, is the news in-form striker Leigh Griffiths has declared himself fit to face the Kazakhstan champions after shrugging off a calf injury.
Griffiths is set to start the game after being given a brief second-half substitute cameo appearance in Friday night's win over Partick Thistle.
But while the frontman is ready to lead the line for Rodgers, defenders Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata, midfielder Eboue Kouassi (all knee) and striker Moussa Dembele (hamstring), remain out.
Celtic met Astana in Champions League third qualifying round last season, beating the Kazakh side 3-2 on aggregate
The Hoops have yet to concede in Champions League qualifying so far, keeping clean sheets in both ties against Linfield and Rosenberg
The Scottish champions have won 15 of their last 17 Champions League qualifying games at Celtic Park (D1 L1)
Astana have scored just three goals in seven Champions League qualifying games away from home, never scoring more than once
Indeed, the team from Kazakhstan have only ever won once on the road in Champions League qualifying (D3 L3)
This is a tremendously important and tricky game from Celtic. They won 3-2 on aggregate when they met last season but Celtic are a stronger side now.
Domestically Brendan Rodgers' side dominated again and there's an understanding that qualifying for the group stages again is absolutely essential financially.
Celtic will dominate the possession but Astana will be happy to sit in, absorb the pressure and take a one-goal defeat because it will be a long and uncomfortable trip to Kazakhstan, so Celtic need a two-goal lead in my opinion.
Their striker Junior Kabananga is physical, fast and energetic - everything Celtic are not used to facing domestically - so they'll have to be very wary.
Rodgers is still missing Moussa Dembele still so Leigh Griffiths is the only proper striker but was left out at the weekend. This is a really awkward night for Celtic and I'm going for a 2-1 win, which leaves them in real danger.
Charlie predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Celtic are expected to establish a first-leg lead on Wednesday night, with Sky Bet making them 4/9 favourites to win and 11/10 to do so by two of more goals. Astana are up against odds of 7/1 to spring an upset and 16/5 to hold their hosts to a draw, as Rodgers' men are considered well odds-on to qualify for the group stages. However, they are up against odds of 500/1 to go on and win the competition. Griffiths heads the first goalscorer betting at 11/4 and is enhanced from 2/1 to 5/2 to bag a brace in Sky Bet's Price Boosts, while Junior Kabananga is considered the visitors' main threat at 10/1 to net first.
