Celtic v Borussia Moenchengladbach Betting Tip Over 2.5 goals – 19 October 2016

More goals on the cards at Celtic Park

Champions League Tips

Wednesday 19th October 2016 Kickoff: 1945hrs

Celtic v Borussia Moenchengladbach 

Football – Europe – Champions League

The Champions League returns to Celtic Park tonight following their dramatic and hugely entertaining 3-3 draw with Manchester City on match day two. The visitors this evening are German outfit Borussia Moenchengladbach who are yet to get off the mark in the group after two games. In a section whereby it looks virtually certain that the top two seeds (Barcelona and City) will qualify for the last 16, the double header between these two clubs will go a long way to determining which one will be playing in the Europa League after Christmas.

I have written before about how special European nights are at Celtic Park and anybody who witnessed the draw with City last month could not have been more impressed with the noise from the supporters off the park combined with the style of play on it. Celtic became the first team to get anything from a Pep Guardiola coached Manchester City team and they fully deserved the point. Not only has it edged them ahead of this week’s opponents in the battle for third, but it also demonstrated to the rest of Europe that the Scottish champions are capable of playing at this level having lost heavily to Barcelona in the opening game of the group. On the back of the draw with City, allied with the fact that Celtic are sweeping all before them domestically, in a manner we have not seen in Scotland for many a year, expectation is such that they will be looking to take all three points from this encounter. That should be tempered somewhat that the step up from the Scottish Premiership to Champions League is massive in terms of quality.

Borussia finished like a train last year to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League playoff round, where they were drawn against Young Boys from Switzerland. They dispatched that opponent with the minimum of fuss to make it two consecutive appearances in the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition. Their campaign got off to a similar start to Celtic’s in that they lost 4-0 at the Etihad against City but they redeemed themselves by giving Barca a fright at home last time out. A goal from Thorgan Hazard had the Spanish outfit in trouble but they recovered in the second half to take all three points and leave ‘Gladbach rooted to the foot of the section. Like Celtic, the Germans would have targeted these games as their best opportunity of gaining points in the group and will travel to Glasgow in the hope of getting a draw at least before the return fixture in just under a fortnight.

Whilst Celtic would have taken a lot of confidence and belief from their last match in this competition, there is still glaring weakness in their defence at this level. The three goals conceded at home to City means they have now shipped 10 goals in their two group stage matches to date. It’s well known how Brendan Rodgers likes to set his teams up and that his high pressing philosophy and willingness to leave only his centre halves in their own half at times will always mean that Celtic are liable to quick counters, which was the case against both City and Barcelona. ‘Gladbach also have that ability so it will be another challenging evening for the Hoops at the back, and they will be under pressure to keep the ball when they have it which is fundamental to this approach. At times against City, the midfield gifted easy possession away and that resulted in two of the three goals they conceded.

As well as their confidence being slightly dented by two straight defeats in the Champions League, ‘Gladbach have also struggled domestically of late. The weekend’s draw away to lowly Hamburg means they have only won one of their last five and have slipped to eighth in the Bundesliga. In addition to that, the team will also be short of four key players this evening with Hazard joining his striker partner Raffael in the sidelines. The duo are the club’s main source of goals – both creating and scoring – so it’s only normal that they will be slightly weakened in their absence. That being said, there is plenty strength in depth and it would be foolish to write off their chances on the basis of that. ‘Gladbach have shown over the last two seasons that they are a force to be reckoned with and will be stiff opposition for Celtic.

Celtic v Borussia Moenchengladbach Betting Tips

It has all the makings of another famous European night at Celtic Park, this evening, as these two clubs clash for the first time in competitive action. Despite their injury list the bookmakers still feel the visitors will have the edge over their opponents and that’s understandable considering this team are more experienced in the Champions League than the Celtic team they will be facing. However, the tag of underdogs suits Celtic and they know that the Celtic Park atmosphere and their players’ ability to cope with it is often a leveller.

This group has been the one for goals so far in the Champions League with 20 goals scored in four matches played. That record looks like continuing this evening as both team’s major strength lies in their attack. Celtic will play the way that they always have done under Rodgers with an extremely high intensity and on the front foot. ‘Gladbach will have to be able to cope with that but if they do then their strength of quick counter attacking will come to the fore. Every other game in the group has seen three or more goals scored in it to date and I really do think that’s the best bet of the night in this encounter.

Over 2.5 goals 7/10 @ Betfair