Copenhagen vs Celtic preview
Follow Copenhagen vs Celtic on Sky Sports' digital platform with a dedicated live blog from 4.45pm
Thursday 20 February 2020 21:01, UK
Team news, stats and predictions as Celtic travel to Copenhagen in the last 32 of the Europa League.
Team news
Copenhagen will be without Denmark international Viktor Fischer, who suffered an injury during the club's winter training camp.
The former Ajax and Middlesbrough attacker joins long-term absentees Jonas Wind and Nicolai Boilesen on the sidelines, with Robert Mudrazija also likely to be missing.
Meanwhile, Celtic are without striker Leigh Griffiths through injury.
Defenders Hatem Elhamed and Greg Taylor have also not travelled to Denmark because of injury.
Opta stats
- This is the first meeting between FC Copenhagen and Celtic since the 2006-07 Champions League group stages - Celtic won 1-0 at home before losing 1-3 in Denmark.
- Celtic's last away win against Danish opposition was in September 1983 (4-1 vs AGF Aarhus), with the Bhoys losing both competitive visits since.
- FC Copenhagen have won just one of their last seven Europa League home games (D2 L4 - excluding qualifiers), beating FC Lugano 1-0 on MD1 of this season's campaign.
- Since beating Boavista 1-0 in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup semi-final, Celtic haven't won any of their nine knockout stage away games in major European competition, also failing to score in any of these nine matches (D1 L8).
- FC Copenhagen are the lowest scorers of the 24 teams to reach the Europa League knockout rounds via the group stages this season (5).
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
Because Celtic are going so well domestically, they must focus and prepare correctly for this clash. They did not play well but got the win at Aberdeen, and this is a remarkable team for getting themselves out of holes. Copenhagen have lost three in a row, and there are a few players struggling with injury.
I expect Celtic to go through over two legs and they are favourites. Celtic have improved in Europe, taking the scalps of Lazio twice was a big turning point for them. There is still vulnerability away from home in Europe, so it is how they manage that which will be the key.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
