Prediction: Celtic vs Ferencvaros

Verdict: Celtic to win by 2+ goals

Best Odds: 20/21

Bookmaker: Unibet

Hoping to move one step closer to securing a lucrative spot in this year’s Champions League, Celtic will welcome Hungary’s Ferencvárosi to Glasgow on Wednesday night.

Celtic

Starting with the hosts, while they might have left it late away at Premiership returners Dundee United over the weekend, Celtic managed to pick up a deserved 1-0 win and have bounced back from their stalemate at Kilmarnock earlier in the month. With a spot in the group stage of this year’s Champions League at the top of their agenda, Neil Lennon’s side really laid down a marker when the blew away Icelandic outfit KR Reykjavik in Glasgow last week. Putting in a rampant display on home soil and picking up a 6-0 romp, the defending Scottish champions also hold what is an eye-catching European record at Celtic Park. Aside from that dramatic 4-3 defeat at home against CFR Cluj last year, the former Hibernian boss has seen his side lose just a single Champions League matchup in Glasgow in any of their previous seven appearances, a run that stems all the way back to 2017.

Team News

Coming off the bench against Dundee and bagging the winner over the weekend, new signing Albian Ajeti could be set for a full debut and should partner Odsonne Édouard up top.

Ferencvaros

As for the visitors, storming towards another top-flight domestic crown over in Hungary, the mood in Ferencvaros camp appears to be at a real high and they will be looking to spring an upset on foreign soil. While they might have only managed to open the new campaign with a 1-1 draw away at MTK Budapest earlier in the month, the Green Eagles really impressed in their deserved 2-0 win against Swedish outfit Djurgården while on Champions League duties and Serhiy Rebrov’s men have also put in some notable European performances over the past year. Including back-to-back 2-1 and 3-2 victories against Ludogorets, Ferencvaros also impressed many when they picked up an eye-catching point away at Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb 12 months ago. If Wednesday’s guests are to pull off what would be a famous upset in Scotland this week, they will be hoping for Norweigan midfielder Tokmac Nguen to lead their charge. Scoring both goals against Djurgarden, the 26-year-old also scored in Ferencvaros’ league opener against MTK.

Team News

Ahead of their trip to Glasgow in midweek, Ferencvaros have no fresh injury or suspensions to worry about and they will likely lineup with the same team that beat Djurgården 2-0 last week.

Key Factors to Consider

• Celtic picked up a 6-0 romp when they opened this year’s Champions League qualifying campaign against KR Reykjavik on home soil.
• Ferencvaros last four European matchups on foreign soil have seen both teams find the net by full-time.
• Odsonne Édouard has found the net in his last three European appearances on the bounce.
• Norwegian midfielder Tokmac Nguen has scored three goals in back-to-back appearances, including a brace against Djurgården last week.
• Celtic’s last three Champions League contests on home soil have produced 18 goals.

Conclusion

While some might feel that Ferencvaros’ arrival on Wednesday could be a real European banana skin for Celtic, the Hoops put in a rampant display against KR Reykjavik last week and will still be boosted after their 6-0 romp in Glasgow. Expected to have too much firepower for their Hungarian guests in midweek, there is no doubt that Odsonne Édouard will be looking to extend on his eye-catching European goalscoring record. Once again finding the net against Reykjavik, the SPFL Player of the Year has scored in his last three European appearances on the bounce and should be confident of finding the net against a Ferencvaros side who have failed to land a clean sheet in their last four Champions League matchups on foreign soil.

Verdict: Celtic to win by 2+ goals

Best Odds: 20/21

Bookmaker: Unibet