Celtic vs Red Bull Salzburg Predictions

Celtic have hit form just at the right time ahead of this massive European clash which would see them progress to the knockout stages of the competition if they can pick up at least one point against Salzburg. This game is set to be played at Celtic Park and will make it one of the most dramatic nights at the famous stadium for a few years as Leipzig are essentially a shoe in for a win against Rosenborg which would see them progress ahead of the Hoops, should Celtic lose this match against group B’s top side.

Celtic have been in hot form recently with them unbeaten in their last ten matches; eight of those being wins. They’ve faced some difficult teams in this run also but have managed to surpass them all with Leipzig (2-1), Hearts (5-0) and Aberdeen (1-0) among others being swept aside by the Glaswegians. James Forrest and Ryan Christie have been particularly impressive recently and the duo now sit with 17 goals between them in all competitions despite neither being strikers.

Whenever Celtic find themselves threatened by a potential challenger, they always seem to turn on the quality and wipe the floor with them, and that’s what happened at the weekend against top-of-the-table Kilmarnock. Steve Clarke’s Killie had been picking up plaudits by the bucket load and this was probably the most anticipated match in Scotland last week but Celtic just turned up and raised hell with a 5-1 thrashing of the opposition. Forrest struck twice to open and close the scoring in what was a match over after five minutes when the winger’s fifth minute goal signalled what was to come.

Celtic now have to take that form into this match but Salzburg are fantastic opposition and won’t roll over for the Scottish champions.

Salzburg have also been on a fantastic run of form with them unbeaten in their last 29 matches in all competitions with just five of those ending in draws. Salzburg have been absolutely ripping up the competition with no one able to keep pace with them as they currently sit 14 points clear at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga. Quality teams like WAC and St. Polten have tried to match Salzburg but have just been swept aside in extremely one-sided games and they have carried this form into the Europa League this season.

Salzburg got agonisingly close to qualifying for the Champions League but away goals saw Red Star Belgrade advance in their place, but Red Bull haven’t moped about and have instead showed why they deserved to be among the European elite. The have won each of their five Europa League games this year, making them just one of three sides to do that alongside Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt. They have scored at least three goals in four of these games with that record only being thwarted by their Red Bull cousins Leipzig at the end of November.

Altogether, they have been unstoppable but cracks have emerged in their last two matches. Against second-bottom Atlach, they only managed to get one goal past the relegation battlers in what was an extremely lacklustre performance by Salzburg. This was followed by a 2-2 draw with the league’s bottom-side Admira who pushed another idealess Salzburg side to the edge at the Chiristian-Petru Ciochira. Salzburg have been so dominating this year, but two disappointing results could spell opportunity for Celtic.

Salzburg are unbeaten in their last 15 away matches but come up against worth opponents in Celtic who haven’t lost at home in their last 14 Parkhead excursions. Celtic have been wonderful in front of goals recently with 26 in their last ten games. They haven’t been as impressive in the Europa League with five in their last five, but this has been enough to carry them over the line so far and it should be the case again here. Salzburg have conceded five in the group this year despite their dominance and we feel this could be the case again as they travel to Celtic Park. Celtic have everything to play for while Salzburg have already finished top and with them showing some weakness in their last two Austrian matches, we feel the gap could be there for Celtic to do some damage. However, Salzburg, with their five wins from five, should be too good to beat but we still feel the Bhoys could nick a point from this match to guarantee qualification for the next round so we’re going to back a 1-1 draw here.