Short introduction for the upcoming game
The UEFA Champions League is set to witness a captivating encounter as Scottish champions Celtic welcome Dutch heavyweights Feyenoord to the iconic Celtic Park in Glasgow. Scheduled for the evening of December 13, 2023, this match is expected to be a crucial one for both teams as they navigate through the group stages of Europe's premier club competition. With the stakes high, neither side will want to miss the chance to secure valuable points.
Match analysis
Celtic's recent form in Europe has been worrisome, with their last five fixtures yielding a series of disappointing results (LLDLL). They currently sit at the bottom of their Champions League group. However, the Scots have been more successful domestically, with an emphatic 6-0 drubbing of Aberdeen and a strong win against Hibernian being the highlights. Their attacking form looks robust with 17 goals scored across their 10 recent matches but defensive weaknesses have shown through, especially in European play.
Feyenoord, on the other hand, has had a mixed set of results in their recent Champions League outings (LLWLW) but occupies the third spot in the group. Their domestic form paints a positive picture, with victories against FC Volendam, Excelsior, AZ Alkmaar, Waalwijk, and a convincing 4-0 triumph over Vitesse. The Rotterdammers have scored 20 goals in their last 10 games, showcasing their attacking prowess, yet vulnerabilities in defense have been exposed, notably in defeats to PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid.
Recent form
In their last 10 games, Celtic's offensive capability has been evident as they've scored in 9 of those games, resulting in a 90% scoring consistency, and have maintained a clean sheet in 40% of those matches. In their home ground of Celtic Park, they have been particularly formidable.
Feyenoord has a slightly better record in attack with goals scored in all but one of their past 10 matches, leading to a scoring rate of 90%. However, they have kept a clean sheet in only 30% of those games. On their travels, they've shown both resilience and susceptibility in equal measure.
Head to head
- Feyenoord defeated Celtic 2-0 in their last UEFA Champions League encounter.
- That fixture was the most recent head-to-head meeting between the teams.
- Celtic will be seeking to avenge their previous defeat on home turf.
Celtic vs Feyenoord head-to-head (last encounter):
- Celtic wins: 0%
- Feyenoord wins: 100%
- Draws: 0%
Prediction
Taking into account both sides' recent form and with Celtic performing on home soil, this match is tipped to be tightly contested. Celtic's European form has been a cause for concern, but their domestic displays suggest they can be potent against a Feyenoord side that has defensive frailties.
Betting Tip: Both Teams to Score (BTTS) seems like a promising bet considering the offensive statistics of both teams.
Full Time Score Prediction: Celtic 2-2 Feyenoord
The likelihood of a draw is plausible given the offensive capabilities of each team and their need to capture points in this crucial group stage match. An alternative bet could be Over 2.5 goals, with both teams showing a tendency to be involved in high-scoring games. For a more cautious approach, Asian Handicap +0.5 in favor of Celtic could provide a safety net with the backing of a passionate home crowd.
