Gary Lineker makes brilliant Celtic prediction

Even though it seems a little odd after the Hoops’ crushing loss to Borussia Dortmund, Gary Lineker has acknowledged that Celtic could be a “dark horse” in this season’s Champions League.
After defeating Slovan Bratislava 5-1 to get off to a strong start, Brendan Rodgers’ team was humiliated 7-1 on the road in Germany, completely wiping out the positive goal differential.

It briefly appeared to be the same old story of the Hoops’ problems in Europe. With four points from their first three games, they have a solid starting point thanks to a disciplined defensive performance in a draw against Atalanta.

Starting their group campaign with a winnable home match followed by two challenging away fixtures, four points is a respectable haul for Celtic. This sees them sitting 20th in the Champions League table, a position that currently keeps them in contention for knockout football under the tournament’s new format.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker shared his thoughts on the unexpected standouts in the Champions League so far. While Aston Villa and Brest, who both lead their respective groups, were obvious mentions, Lineker included Celtic among his picks. “Villa, three wins from three, you’d have to say them. The three English teams are top, aren’t they, with Manchester City and Liverpool as well,” he said. “So I’d say Brest, the team in France, who are going really well. Two wins and a draw, which is, I think, pretty impressive.”

He continued, “Celtic, in a weird way, considering they actually got battered in one game—seven against Dortmund—they’ve got four points from the other two games,” as he considered the team’s future. That offers them a chance to be in the middle block, which is probably achievable.
Celtic is in a strong position with five games remaining after their opening victory against Slovan Bratislava and their tense draw with Europa League winners Atalanta. The Hoops’ next opponent is RB Leipzig, who will travel to Glasgow with confidence despite their own difficulties this season. Celtic will want to maintain their Champions League run and make the most of their home advantage.