RB Leipzig are in must-win territory in the Champions League at Celtic tonight – and they’ve done all they can to avoid SPIES.
The Bundesliga side are yet to get off the mark in Europe’s top table after defeats to Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool and they know in order to make a bid for the knockout stages that a win over Brendan Rodgers’ men is of the highest priority. The Scottish champions can put themselves in a very strong position by claiming another Champions League win under the lights at Parkhead following their matchday one hammering of Slovan Bratislava. The nightmare of Dortmund is also behind the Hoops after a stunning defensive display in Bergamo against Atalanta to take their points tally to four so far.
But Leipzig decided AGAINST a training session at Celtic Park and took on final preparations on home turf. German publication BILD stated: “The club has done everything to make this possible: yesterday’s final training session was moved to Leipzig without further ado. Instead of taking place in Glasgow in the afternoon, it took place in the morning at the training centre. There are the usual procedures. And no Scottish spies…”
The German club have also opted to stay at Cameron House rather than in the city centre. The same report states Leipzig have placed ‘great importance on being able to prepare for the game in peace’ and staying at Loch Lomond will ensure ‘there will be no nighttime unrest around the five-star hotel’.
Meanwhile, Marco Tilio has suffered a fresh injury blow. The Celtic loanee – back at Melbourne City, was subbed off in the first half of the 1-0 win over Western United. Boss Aurelio Vidmar played down fears over a serious issue like previously. But stated ‘powerful animals’ like the attacker will get one or potentially two of those types of injuries per season.
He explained: “He (Tilio) said he felt a spasm in the hamstring. Again, I’m no doctor, no physio. He feels like it’s not as bad as it was last year (season) – so touch wood.
“He’s had an excellent pre-season. Unfortunately, those guys who are powerful animals like Tils, they’re going to get one a season, potentially two a season. He’s very, very explosive, we know that. Andy’s a typical one that can happen (to). Leckie’s another one it can happen to.
“The skinny guys like me who can run all day, who are aerobic, they probably don’t even know they’ve got a hamstring. So that’s the difference with those types of players, they give you something extra that the others can’t give with that explosive power, and you run the risk always. We prepare them as best as possible, they’re strong but it can happen.”
Elsewhere, Celtic boss Rodgers expects a tough test against Leipzig as he labelled them a ‘top team’ like Atalanta and Dortmund.
He picked out four key strengths in their locker and has warned this troops they will need to show the concentration and commitment from Bergamo at a packed out Parkhead tonight. He said: “RB Leipzig, like Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund, are a top team right towards the top of their league. They have everything you would want in a top European side.
“Speed, strength, power, technique. But it’s a brilliant challenge for us and we’re really looking forward to it. On the back of a really good result in Atalanta, we’re at home and we’re really excited by that.’
“It’ll be a full house and we’ll look to bring our energy to the game. But we also know that we’ll have to defend for good periods of the game as well with the concentration and commitment that we showed in Atalanta.”