Celtic will be looking for their first win in the Champions League this season when they host RB Leipzig in the fourth game of Group F.
The Hoops currently sit bottom of their UEFA Champions League section after three games, picking up one draw and losing two. Despite this, Ange Postecoglou's side are just three points behind Shakhtar Donetsk in second.
A 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig last week sent Celtic bottom as the German side jumped above the Hoops, but the Scottish champions will be hoping they can find three points in the reverse fixture tonight at Celtic Park. Postecoglou's side also enter the clash off the back of a victory, beating St. Johnstone 2-1 on the weekend thanks to a 95th-minute winner.
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Cameron Carter-Vickers returned for the Hoops following his short spell on the sidelines - a huge boost ahead of the Leipzig clash. Callum McGregor and Carl Starfelt are the only guaranteed absentees for Celtic, whilst Jota is deemed a doubt, though Postecoglou could still play the Portuguese forward.
So, could Celtic find their first win in the Champions League tonight? We used FIFA 23 to try and predict the score, and this is what happened!
Celtic vs RB Leipzig score predicted by simulation
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the Celtic squad with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that the Hoops could set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor; Hatate, O'Riley; Maeda, Haksabanovic, Jota; Furuhashi.
We predict that the visitors could set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Kampl, Schlager; Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Werner; Silva.
Celtic started the game at a high tempo, pushing the visitors deep in their own half when out of possession. The aggressive press from Postecoglou's side was causing trouble for Leipzig, and it ultimately led to Celtic taking the lead after seven minutes.
After losing out to Mohamed Simakan, Jota quickly closed down the defender, blocking his attempted clearance on the edge of the box and regaining possession. Jota flicked the ball back into the centre to Sead Haksabanovic, and the midfielder curled a fantastic effort into the far top corner, looping over the 'keeper to put the Hoops ahead.
The long-range effort handed Celtic a deserved lead, but Leipzig remained dangerous on the attack as they looked for an equaliser. Jota caught Dominik Szoboszlai on the counterattack and picked up a yellow card for his challenge in the 10th minute, and the resulting free-kick led to the equaliser.
Szoboszlai's inswinging cross was met in the centre of the box by Andre Silva, and the Portuguese striker's header was flicked on into the far corner, evading Joe Hart at full stretch. As the game became level it became a lot more open, with both sides having chances.
Hart denied Christopher Nkunku from close range with a fantastic save moments after Silva's goal, and Jota struck the post down the other end as both sides looked to take the lead. Celtic were finding success on the counterattack, and the hosts took the lead just before the break through Kyogo Furuhashi.
A long ball forward from Carter-Vickers found Daizen Maeda on the right, and after a battle with David Raum on the wing, the Japanese winger emerged victorious as he raced towards the box. Outnumbering the Leipzig defence, Maeda drilled a ball into the box for Furuhashi, and the striker swept home the cross with ease to put Celtic 2-1 ahead.
The second half was much more uneventful, but another set piece saw Celtic undone as the visitors levelled the score once again. A corner sent into the box was half-cleared to the feet of Josko Gvardiol, and the defender managed to volley the ball back across goal and into the net via the post.
Neither side could push for a winner, and the points were shared at Celtic Park.
FIFA 23 predicted final score: Celtic 2-2 RB Leipzig
Here are the full-time match stats.
FIFA 23 predicts that a close affair between Celtic and RB Leipzig could end in a draw, extending the Hoops' winless run in the Champions League. Celtic failed to hold onto a lead twice, showing how some better defending from set pieces could potentially lead to a win for Celtic.
What do you think the score will be between Celtic and RB Leipzig tonight? Let us know in the comments!
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