Feyenoord vs Celtic Prediction: Hosts to lay down marker

Celtic commence their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night (20:00) with a trip to Dutch champions Feyenoord at De Kuip.

The Rotterdam-based outfit make their return to Europe’s elite after six seasons away, while Celtic have won just one of their last 21 matches in Europe’s premier club competition.

Team News

Feyenoord will be without 25-year-old goalkeeper Justin Bijilow on Tuesday night, after he sustained a wrist injury last month.

The Dutch champions are also sweating over the fitness of forward Ayase Ueda, while star striker Santiago Gimenez, who has scored six goals in his last four outings for Arne Slot’s side, is serving a two-game suspension following his extra-time dismissal against Roma in last season’s Europa League quarter-finals.

As for the visitors, they will travel to the Netherlands without the likes of Stephen Welsh, Mark Nawrocki, Liel Abada and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

However, Celtic may bring Reo Hatate back into their starting XI, after making his return from a calf injury with a half-hour cameo on Saturday.

Feyenoord to win and both teams to score @ 2/1

The hosts come into this game in sensational form, winning each of their previous three Eredivisie appearances and notching 17 strikes in the process.

In their first match after the international break, they recorded a 6-1 home win over Heerenveen, scoring three goals in either half.

The visitors are unbeaten in their last three, keeping three clean sheets in the process, but I find it difficult to see the Hoops keeping out a free-scoring Feyenoord side here.

Despite the attacking prowess of the hosts in recent weeks, they’ve conceded in each of their last four outings, suggesting that Celtic could get chances to get on the scoresheet here.

Kyogo Furuhashi to score anytime @ 21/10

Celtic’s best chance of finding the back of the net will come through Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Japan international has notched four strikes in his opening five Scottish Premiership appearances this season.

Furuhashi failed to score in Celtic’s six group stage matches last season, so he will likely be desperate to end that drought here and prove that he belongs at this level.