Europa League Preview: Hamburg - Celtic

By Andrew Southwick

Celtic are staring into the Europa League abyss as they prepare for the trip to Germany.

Group C has not been kind to them, losing away to Hapoel Tel Aviv, then failing to win any of their home games to date.

Hamburg were of course one of the visitors, and their 1-0 win two weeks ago seems to have put paid to any realistic hope Tony Mowbray’s men still have of emerging from this group.

They could turn it round with an unlikely win against the Bundesliga cracks, but the odds are long and unfavourable.

Another defeat for Celtic here, coupled with the result in the other tie between Tel Aviv and Rapid Vienna not going their way, and Celtic will be eliminated with two games still to play.

Form has not been great since the Hamburg defeat, despite the fact they were deeply unlucky in losing that game.  Since then they have struggled to victory over Scottish Premier League whipping boys Hamilton, and been knocked out of their domestic League Cup by Hearts.

Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock has lightened the mood a little, and they still do sit top of the SPL, but the pressure is intensifying on the management.

Hamburg were losers at home in their most recent fixture to Borussia Mongengladbach, and since their visit to Glasgow they have surrendered top spot in the Bundesliga.

 Trochowski and Roberto had put the home side ahead twice but two goals over the final 14 minutes did them in, and their long injury list appears to be having an effect.

The side managed by Bruno Labbadia are in first place in the group though with six points.  Victory over the Bhoys would have them almost home and dry and into the knock-out stages.

The game will be played to an intriguing backdrop of local rivalry.  Two weeks ago, Hamburg’s support in Glasgow was very much boosted by the arrival of Rangers supporters amongst their number. 

This time, Hamburg’s city rivals St Pauli will stand side by side the Celtic fans in the stadium, with up to 1,000 tickets said to be purchased by the side from the top of the famous Reaperbahm.

FORM GUIDE

Hamburg

Hamburg 2-3 Borussia Monchengladbach
Shalke 3-3 Hamburg
Celtic 0-1 Hamburg
Hamburg 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Hertha Berlin 1-3 Hamburg

Celtic

Celtic 3-0 Kilmarnock
Celtic 0-1 Hearts
Hamilton 1-2 Celtic
Celtic 0-1 Hamburg
Celtic 0-0 Motherwell

TEAM NEWS

Hamburg

Hamburg still have a long injury list, though that did not hamper them too much two weeks ago, though they have dropped off the pace at the top of the Bundesliga.

First choice strikers Paolo Guerrero and Mladen Petric are sidelined, while Alex Silva, Collin Benjamin, Miroslav Stepanek and Bastian Reinhardt are also long-term casualties.

Labbadia will give a fitness test to defender Jerome Boateng, who picked up a knock against Monchengladback.

Last Starting XI (2-3 v Borussia Mongengladbach) Rost, Aogo, Mathijsen, Boateng, Demel, Elia, Ze’ Roberto, Jarolim, Trochowski, Berg, Pitroipa.

Celtic

Celtic travel to Germany without injured midfielders Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown.

Maloney is suffering from tendonitis in the heel, while Brown is still resting a troublesome ankle problem.

Marc-Antoine Fortune may be risked by Mowbray after playing the final 25 minutes against Kilmarnock at the weekend.

Lukasz Zaluska will continue in goals, while Captain Stephen McManus could feature, having served a domestic suspension at the weekend.

Last Starting XI (3-0 v Kilmarnock) Zaluska, Caldwell, Loovens, Fox, Hinkel, Crosas, N’Guemo, McCourt, McGeady, McDonald, Samaras.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hamburg – Jonathon Pitroipa

The midfielder caused Celtic no end of problems at Parkhead, constantly bursting into the box, and he is sure to give the visitors another tough time.

Celtic – Lukasz Zaluska

He may be Celtic’s second choice goalkeeper, but that doesn’t mean the Hoops have been weakened.  Since his signing in the summer, many fans have felt he should be installed as number one, and now that he’s been given his chance what better time to pull off a man of the match performance than in Germany.

PREDICTION

There wasn’t too much between the sides in Glasgow, and with Hamburg’s lengthy injury list they are still there for the taking.  Celtic really needed to be at full strength themselves though, and with Maloney and Brown missing it is difficult to see them pulling off a shock result.

Hamburg 2-1 Celtic.