Celtic v Astana predictions, betting tips, lineups and free bets (Champions League play-off 1st leg - 16.8.2017)

Celtic take on Astana in the first leg of their Champions League play-off at Parkhead on Wednesday night. This article contains our Celtic v Astana betting preview with predictions, betting tips, starting lineups, team news, best odds, best bookmakers bonuses and no deposit free bets on the UCL qualifiers!

 

CELTIC v ASTANA BETTING PREVIEW 

Celtic, who completed the Scottish treble last term, have already faced two Champions League qualifiers this season, beating rivals Linfield 6-0 on aggregate but struggling more against Rosenborg. The Bhoys could only manage a 1-0 aggregate win against the Norwegian outfit. As to the Scottish Premier League, they stretched their unbeaten run in domestic competition to an incredible 51 matches with a slender 1-0 win against Partick Thistle on Friday night. As a result, with the exception of their nervy 0-0 draw at Rosenborg, the Hoops have won each of their other six competitive fixtures this term, scoring 17 goals and conceding just once in reply.

Brendan Rodgers will be without Dedryck Boyata, Cristian Gamboa and Moussa Dembele who are injured. Plus, Erik Sviatchenko has been ruled out for six weeks and will miss the double clash against the Kazakhs. Rodgers will hope to have Leigh Griffiths fit, with ongoing calf concerns restricting him to half-an-hour of action at Partick. The likes of James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Olivier Ntcham and Scott Sinclair are expected to support the lone striker from midfield while Scott Brown will play as defensive midfielder.



Astana beat Spartaks Jurmala 2-1 on aggregate in their Champions League opener this season and then knocked out Legia Warsaw. They have proven difficult to beat at home but have struggled to win games on the road in the Champions League. In last season’s Europa League group, they were beaten away by Apoel Nicosia, Olympiakos and Young Boys by an aggregate score of 9-2. Astana will be hoping to get a revenge for last season’s bloody loss against the Scots, with Celtic only coming through by virtue of a last gasp penalty from Moussa Dembele to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Junior Kabananga is expected to lead the line with support from Serikzhan Muzhikov. Full backs Igor Shitov and Dmitri Shomko are suspended for the visitors. The visitors will play with a 4-2-3-1 formation in which Oatrick Twumasi, Laszlo Kleinheisler and Serikhzan Muzhikov will start as offensive midfielders behind Kabanaga.

 

CELTIC v ASTANA PROBABLE LINEUPS 

Celtic (4-1-4-1): Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Ajer, Tierney; Brown; Forrest, McGregor, Ntcham, Sinclair; Griffiths

Astana (4-2-3-1): Eric; Beysebekov, Postnikov, Logvinenko, Maly; Maevskiy, Grahovac; Twumasi, Kleinheisler, Muzhikov; Kabanaga

 

CELTIC v ASTANA ODDS 

PICK	BEST ODDS	BOOKMAKER	BET
CELTIC	1.44 with		Bet £10, win £14.40
THE DRAW	4.55 with		Bet £10, win £45.50
ASTANA	9.50 with		Bet £10, win £95.00

 

CELTIC v ASTANA PREDICTIONS  

OUR BETTING TIP	BEST ODDS	BOOKMAKER
Celtic to win by one	3.60
1-0 Correct Score	6.00
Under 2.5 goals	1.86
Draw/Celtic HT/FT	4.20

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