Celtic will return to European action tonight when they take the trip to the Wanda Metropolitano to face off against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid for the second time this season in the Champions League.
Despite the home draw, the Hoops remained competitive and even took the lead twice against them, inspiring some hope for what many fans expected to be a free hit for Brendan Rodgers’ side when the draw was first revealed.
Celtic will be further encouraged by Atleti’s loss at the weekend in the Canary Islands against Las Palmas, and will be hoping to take the game to Simeone’s men once again this evening.
Here is A Celtic State of Mind’s predicted team for our European matchup with Atlético Madrid:
GK – Joe Hart
The English stopper has been untested over the last few weeks, not having a single save to make up in Dingwall at the weekend. He will have to be at the top of his game in Madrid much like he was in the previous fixture where he saved a penalty from Antoine Griezmann, his second penalty save in three Champions League games this season.
RB – Alistair Johnston
Johnston has been a solid performer over the last few weeks and has carried that domestic form over to the Champions League pretty seamlessly. Atleti will provide a tough test, but he will be looking to use that big game experience to challenge the very best the Simeone’s attack has to offer.
CB – Cameron Carter-Vickers
Carter-Vickers has had a mixed European campaign so far, with a decent all-round performance against Atleti being overshadowed by the fact he lost Alvaro Morata in the box for their second equaliser of the night. He will have to be 100% focused this evening if Celtic are to take anything from the game.
CB – Liam Scales
The Irishman has taken to the Champions League like a duck to water, performing tremendously at the highest level. He will have a lot more defending to do than he has in the previous few domestic games, but there is no reason to doubt him as he has risen to the occasion every time this season.
LB – Greg Taylor
Taylor was caught out on a few occasions against Atleti, giving away an albeit questionable penalty for a foul on Nahuel Molina. Rodgers will have, no doubt, reaffirmed the importance of maintaining focus against Europe’s elite to the full-back.
CM – Matt O’Riley
The Dane was awarded the UEFA player-of-the-match award for his display in the home fixture, and he will be expected to maintain those incredibly high performance levels tonight.
CM – Callum McGregor
The captain has been one of the most consistent performers for Celtic over the last few weeks, and his importance for fixtures of this magnitude cannot be understated given how much control he has over Celtic’s tempo and overall play.
CM – David Turnbull
Turnbull may return to the starting XI for this European match given how good he was in last week’s fixtures. Doing well in the tight spaces and involved in almost every chance Celtic created, Turnbull will have to be at the top of his game tomorrow evening if he is afforded his first-ever Champions League start.
RW – Daizen Maeda
The Japanese winger did so much running in the home fixture against Atleti that he practically tired himself out for the next two league fixtures, looking noticeably leggy at Easter Road and being afforded a rest against St Mirren. After getting a start at the weekend, Maeda will be ready for another energetic display tomorrow night.
ST – Kyogo Furuhashi
After breaking his Champions League goal-scoring duck against Lazio, Kyogo has been in top form in the Champions League and will be looking to get on the scoresheet once again in Madrid.
LW – Luis Palma
The Honduran has been one of the standout performers in the Champions League so far, not looking out of place against Europe’s elite, and will be eager to bag another goal against Simeone’s side.
JAMES MCKENZIE // Follow James HERE
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