Celtic

Tino
Fan writer

With nine wins from nine in all competitions this season, Celtic are set for their toughest test yet as they go all out to secure the perfect ten.

Standing in their way are a side that just 17 weeks ago were lining up in the final of the Champions League and there can be no doubt about the size of the challenge that the Bhoys will face in the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday.

Borussia Dortmund are undoubtedly one of Europe's big hitters but could we be coming up against them at just the right time?

Less than two weeks ago Nuri Sahin’s side were on the wrong end of 5-1 hammering from Stuttgart with the young coach struggling to find his feet in his first few months at the helm.

Just 36-years-old, Sahin is a Dortmund legend as a player but it remains very much to be seen if he'll be able to replicate that success on the touchline.

In one of those quirky twists that we often see in football, the former Turkey international also had a spell under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool in the 2012-13 season, and while reports from the time suggest an acrimonious split, both coaches have been nothing but respectful in their pre-match comments.

For Rodgers, this is now the time to show all his experience and to step up in Europe.

His domestic record at Celtic is phenomenal but the big gap on his CV is European success, and with the squad of players he now has at his disposal this could be the big opportunity he's been waiting for.

The addition of record signing Arne Engels could be crucial this evening, as could German winger Nicholas Kuhn who'll be eager to show what he can do on home soil.

Add a revitalised Callum McGregor, an in-form Kyogo and the ever-industrious Daizen Maeda to the mix and Celtic may just have a chance to upset the odds here.

Regardless if they do so or not, the very fact that Rodgers has us thinking in such terms tells us a lot about how far we've come during his second spell in charge at the club.

"Relaxed but focused" was how he described his state of mind before this one, and while most of us will be anything but relaxed by kick-off, we'll be fully focused on what this all-action Celtic side bring to the big stage tonight.

Expect goals, expect drama, and expect another big night for Celtic in Europe.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels says performing in front their passionate home supporters has prepared his team to face Borussia Dortmund’s famous 'Yellow Wall'.

The Scottish champions face the German giants in their second Champions League match on Tuesday after opening their European campaign with an impressive 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava.

Engels is relishing the prospect of testing himself against last season's beaten finalists.

"It's always amazing to be here and also to come back because I played here a few times," the Belgian midfielder said.

"It's an amazing stadium and it's always positive to play here.

"I haven't spoken to a lot of the guys about it because they know it and we also have an amazing atmosphere at Celtic Park.

"So it's kind of the same. Everyone knows how to handle it. If you can play at Celtic Park, you can play everywhere.

"If you don't have the belief, then you are better not to come and say it's 5-0 for them.

"We want to come here and win like every game. You always need to have this mindset.

"Everyone is really focused on their jobs and that's what makes us really strong as a team.

"We are setting the standards for ourselves every day as a team and doing a really good job there. It's up to us now to show it like we do every week."

Image source, SNS

• Borussia Dortmund have won six of their 16 games against Scottish sides, losing four of them - once to Celtic and three times to Rangers.

• Celtic have only won four of 28 meetings with German sides, losing 19, and have never won away from home.

• Dortmund's latest meeting with a Scottish side ended in a 6-4 aggregate defeat by Rangers in the 2021-22 Europa League knock-out round when the Ibrox side won the frst leg 4-2 in Germany.

• Celtic's latest meeting with German opposition ended with a 3-1 away defeat by Leipzig and 2-0 loss in Glasgow in the 2022-23 Champions League group stage.

• Celtic and Dortmund have met twice before in European competition - both in the Uefa Cup - with the Germans progressing both times on aggregate.

• Celtic won their first meeting 2-1 at home in the Uefa Cup first round in 1987, but Dortmund won the second leg 2-0.

• Dortmund won both legs of their 1992 Uefa Cup meeting - 1-0 at home and 2-1 in Glasgow.

• Celtic have only won one of their latest 11 European away games, losing nine.

• Dortmund have won eight of their latest 17 European home games, losing only three.

• Dortmund have gone nine games unbeaten at home, winning the latest eight, while Celtic have won 17 games in a row, nine this season.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Signal Iduna Park

Image source, SNS

Brendan Rodgers has urged his players to "cherish and embrace" the atmosphere and environment at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.

Borussia Dortmund and their 'Yellow Wall' of supporters are one of the most iconic fanbases in world football, particularly on a Champions League night.

Rodgers' players are no strangers to special atmospheres on European nights, but the Celtic manager is calling for his players to take a moment to take it all in because they are "playing for the dreams of our supporters".

"It's something that you have to cherish and live," he said.

"Sometimes that's difficult when you're playing because you're so focused on the game, but for us, tomorrow we play for the dreams of the supporters.

"The supporters are travelling out here in the thousands and we play for ourselves to go and enjoy this experience.

"It's a wonderful arena, go and embrace it. Go and cherish these big games and let's see where it takes us.

"If we come in after the game and we've given everything and we play with the spirit that we have done and you don't quite get the result, then as long as you've ran and you've fought and you've played and you've pressed and you've attacked, then you can do no more than that.

"The game is about levels and about tiers, and for us, I'm just interested to see us competing at this level."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Signal Iduna Park

Image source, SNS

Brendan Rodgers has been addressing the media ahead of Celtic's second Champions League league phase game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

Here are the key points he made:

• Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has not made the journey to Germany and will miss the game due to a toe injury.

• Rodgers "is not looking for perfection" against Dortmund, instead he is wanting his side to be "really, really difficult to play against and give everything we have".

• The manager said he is very relaxed, but focussed ahead of Tuesday's game.

• The squad are "in a really good place" which "allows us to be competitive".

• Rodgers said he wants to see if "we can make that step from qualification and participating into competing at this level".

• He "absolutely" sees this as an "acid test".

• On the impact of this stadium and the support, Rodgers said, "tomorrow we play for the dreams of the supporters".

• Rodgers said Dortmund are "still a formidable team" and it's "a big challenge" for his side.

Image source, SNS

Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss Celtic's Champions League match with Borussia Dortmund, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.

The centre-back sat out Celtic’s last two matches with a toe injury that has been troubling him in recent weeks and has not travelled to Germany.

On his absence, Rodgers said: "He's a top class player for us. He's missed a little bit of Champions League football in his time. Five of the 12 games that the club has played, he's unfortunately not been able to play in, but yes, we've got other players.

"It's always an opportunity for someone else to come in and hopefully we can get Cam back sooner rather than later.

“We can't overthink it. We will rely on a collective, there's not one player that brings our results and how we've been this season.

"Of course he's a very important player, Cam, but for us to get a result tomorrow evening, it will be by the collective."

Image source, Getty Images

Nuri Sahin is "a big fan" of Kyogo Furuhashi as the Borussia Dortmund manager prepares to welcome Celtic in the Champions League.

The Japan international has four goals in his last three games, including one in Celtic's Champions League opening group game against Slovan Bratislava.

When asked about Celtic’s main threats, Sahin said: "If you really want a name, I'm a big, big fan of your striker.

"Furuhashi is not a typical striker like we are used to, a big one. But he is very smart and I really like how he moves off the ball, the timing of his runs. I see a very smart guy there tactically."

The 29-year-old netted twice at the weekend in the impressive 6-0 win against St Johnstone for Brendan Rodgers' side, and Sahin is not underestimating the Glasgow side ahead of Tuesday's encounter.

The match will also mark the reunion of Rodgers and Sahin, the latter played under the Northern Irishman for a short time at Liverpool and he said he "only has good things to say" about him.

"I liked his training sessions, they were very interesting, I was already taking notes for my own coaching career," Sahin said. "We meet again 10 years on and I’m looking forward to the duel.

"I really enjoyed my time at Liverpool and also under Brendan. His ideas were very possession-oriented, playing in the opposition half and I can only say good things about him and my time there."

Four of Celtic's Scottish Premiership fixtures across November and December have been selected for television coverage.

The trip to Rugby Park has been moved from Saturday, 9 November to Sunday, 10 November, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT.

Just under two weeks later, the visit to Tynecastle on Saturday, 23 November has had its kick-off pushed back until 19:45 that night.

The trip up to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen on Wednesday, 4 December has also had kick-off moved until 20:00.

Celtic's final televised game before Christmas will be against Dundee United, now on Sunday, 22 December at 12 noon after moving from the traditional, Saturday 15:00 spot.

Finally, Celtic's home game against United, scheduled for Saturday, 2 November has been changed due to Brendan Rodgers' side participation in the Premier Sports Cup.

The revised date is Wednesday, 8 January 2025 at 19:45.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

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Celtic and Borussia Dortmund are set to meet for just the third time on Tuesday.

The pair have met only twice in old Uefa Cup ties.

The first of those in 1987 featured a quick-fire return to Celtic Park for the great Murdo MacLeod, who enjoyed his time in Germany almost as much as they enjoyed having him there.

A decade later, a successful future Celtic captain Paul Lambert hoisted the European Cup above his head in Dortmund colours as they beat a fabulous Juventus side in Munich to lift the trophy for the only time in the club's history.

Dortmund and Celtic are intrinsically linked by those two as the clubs prepare to do battle in the biggest tournament of them all, with Rodgers and his players eyeing up history.

Read the rest of Liam McLeod's piece here.

Image source, SNS

You'd have to go all the way back to 1906 to witness the last time Celtic started a domestic season so strongly.

With six games played, they're yet to concede a goal, while firing in 20 at the other end. Only Aberdeen have been able to keep pace, while Rangers trail the leaders by five points.

"You're running out of superlatives for Celtic at the minute," according to former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady. "They're playing with such confidence and the additions that they made before the end of the transfer window have only strengthened their squad.

"They had a fantastic result in Europe to kick off that Champions League campaign where this season everything's been levelled at Brendan Rodgers and his team to actually translate that domestic form into Europe."

In total, they've scored 33 goals in their 9 games so far, having added another six to the tally with a complete demolition of St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday.

"Just now in the league I think Celtic have nothing to worry about," McGeady added. "Obviously that can change but Celtic are just looking so strong.

"They're playing with such pace, passing forward quickly. It's so different from last season when there was a lot of, not complaints, but things were being levelled at the team about the pace of the play and how slow the build-up was.

"Just now we're not seeing that at all. It's very, very quick. When they lose the ball, they're very, very quick to win the ball back with the forward players that they've got. When they're playing in possession, they just look like they're going to sweep everyone away at the minute."

• Aiden McGeady was speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, which you can listen to here on BBC Sounds.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It's no surprise to see two Celtic stars in my team of the week, given their astonishing performance in Perth.

Greg Taylor was impressive at left-back, despite being replaced at half-time. Don't worry too much, the Scotland star was moving freely in the celebrations post-match.

Up top, Kyogo Furuhashi looks very much back to his best up front after a season in which his goalscoring didn't quite hit the heights of the 22-23 campaign.

Malmo winger Sead Haksabanovic insists he does not regret the social media outburst that effectively cost him his Celtic career, explaining "I felt I was not treated as the others were". (Football Scotland), external

Ex-Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann has pinpointed Borussia Dortmund's defence as a weak spot ahead of Tuesday's Champions League visit from Celtic. (Herald, external, external, subscription required)

Celtic defender Liam Scales has backed Auston Trusty to help shut out Borussia Dortmund if he has to deputise for USA team-mate Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is a doubt with a toe injury. (Scottish Sun), external

Watch highlights of Celtic's 6-0 win over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK viewers only.

Adam Idah completes an intricate passing move to score Celtic's sixth goal in their 6-0 defeat of St Johnstone (UK only).

Image source, Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund were left with mixed feelings as they prepare to host Celtic in the Champions League after staging what midfielder Felix Nmecha described as a "simply awesome" comeback to defeat Bochum 4-2.

Looking to bounce back from their 5-1 Bundesliga mauling away to Stuttgart, Nuri Sahin's side fell two goals behind their derby rivals but ultimately made it three home wins out of three this season to sit fourth in the table.

Slovakia international Matus Bero was played behind the defence to score before fellow midfielder Dani de Wit pounced on goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's mistake to put the visitors two ahead within 20 minutes.

However, Serhou Guirassy headed a reply and, after the break, Germany midfielder Emre Can equalised from the penalty spot before the Guinea striker fired his second and Nmecha completed the scoring from range.

"In this stadium, you always have the feeling that anything can happen," Nmecha told his club website. "After the first goal, the hope came back and, after that, it was simply awesome.

"We wanted to play better football, we didn't want to concede any goals. If we can learn from it, that's good."

Sahin thought the win was "100% deserved" after a shot count of 23-9 but added: "It was not all good, but we have three points."

Especially so since Bochum's Myron Boadu missed a great chance to make it 3-0.

Giovanni Reyna, who is back in training after a muscle injury, and fellow midfielder Marcel Sabitzer had both missed out, although the latter could recover in time to face Celtic.

Sabitzer was one of three changes from the team that lost to Stuttgart, with Can, on-loan Manchester City defender Yan Couto and English midfielder Jamie Gittens coming into the starting line-up and Niklas Sule and Nmecha dropping to the bench.

We asked for your views on Celtic’s 6-0 win against St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Patrick: Some absolutely killer passes, really clinical stuff. Goals coming from all over the pitch, long shots, neat little dinks and deadly lofted balls - fantastic to watch!

Michael: What can you say about that performance? The most one-sided game of football you will see in a Premiership game, it's like perfect football. It's all about Europe this season as the Scottish league is a farmers league apart from Celtic and Aberdeen. I'm lost for words on this performance.

Martin: I have to say, I was in the sceptical mindset when Brendan Rodgers returned, still injured by how he left the first time, but what he's done - marrying the dizzying highs of Ange Postecolgou's Celtic with his own style - has seen us jump light years ahead of everyone domestically right now. Big test on Tuesday. I believe.

Paul: This Celtic team have absolutely blown their opposition away over the last few weeks, this time putting a sorry St Johnstone side to the sword on Saturday. The acid test will be in Europe, a true barometer of how far they've come this season. We will be severely tested when they meet the German giants Borussia Dortmund, but onward and upwards.

Ronald: The Scottish Premier League is a joke. The proof of the pudding will be how well Celtic perform against top teams in Europe. Not how many goals they put in the net against mediocre opposition.

Richard: Brendan has Celtic playing better than under any past manager. I think it will take a monumental disaster for them not to win the league. The Aberdeen, game is the one I want to watch. Now for the Champions League, good start so far.

John: A sublime performance all over the park, St Johnstone must have been dreading this game.

Frank: Absolutely brilliant. Could have been more goals, but St Johnstone were determined to keep us out. Dogged I think but Rodgers' tactics were spot on. We have a very strong squad and we have a great opportunity to do well in Europe.

Image source, SNS

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in six of their six games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have failed to score in three of their seven games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their last six games in the Premiership, a run of 666 minutes without conceding a goal.

• St Johnstone have failed to win in their last five games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 13th April 2024 to 15th May 2024.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reacts to the 6-0 Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone.

Did you attend Celtic's 6-0 win over St Johnstone or did you follow from home?

Click here, external to have your say on the match.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I thought we were excellent. From the first whistle, you saw the mentality in the team. I don't think the players could've done any more.

"They're all really good [goals] in their own right. My big thing in making this team different is the attitude in our counter pressing, the hunger. When you have that in your team, along with the talent and the organisation, it gives you a big, big chance.

"Our clean sheet record, our mentality, it all starts from the front. I'm very pleased with the overall performance."