In their previous fixture, Celtic delivered an impressive 4-0 victory over Major League Soccer side DC United. This convincing win saw goals from the in-form Matt O’Riley, who scored twice, alongside strikes from James Forrest and Mikey Johnston. Despite the step up in opposition quality against Manchester City, the focus remains on fitness and preparation for the upcoming Scottish Premiership season, starting next month.
Celtic could see the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers to the match squad after joining late in training last week. Additionally, new signing Kasper Schmeichel is now actively involved in preparations. However, Maik Nawrocki remains sidelined due to a calf injury, while Daizen Maeda, though not included against DC United, was present during the team’s recent training session.
Looking ahead to the clash with Manchester City, there are expectations of significant lineup changes. Viljami Sinisalo, who played 45 minutes against DC United, may start tonight, potentially sharing the goalkeeping duties with Scott Bain and Kasper Schmeichel. Brendan Rodgers might rotate players like Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston for extended game time to enhance match readiness.
Defensively, Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh are poised to partner in the center, possibly allowing Cameron Carter-Vickers a half-hour cameo in the second half. In midfield, captain Callum McGregor is likely to make a starting appearance, while Matt O’Riley and possibly Odin Holm could complement the Japanese duo Tomoki Iwata and Reo Hatate, who both played significant minutes in the previous match.
The attacking trio of Nicolas Kuhn, Luis Palma, and Kyogo Furuhashi, who impressed in the last outing, are anticipated to retain their starting roles, providing firepower against Manchester City’s stout defense.
Regarding the kickoff time, there has been some confusion with different sources listing conflicting times. The match is scheduled for 00:30 UK time (19:30 local time), as clarified by Celtic and FC Series organizers. Fans looking to watch the game can tune in via Celtic TV with an official stream or subscribe to City+ for coverage from Manchester City.
For viewers in the USA, ESPN+ will broadcast the match, while a comprehensive list of global broadcasters can be accessed via LiveSoccerTV for international audiences.
As Celtic continues their preseason preparations against top-tier opponents like Manchester City, tonight’s match promises to be an intriguing test of their readiness and cohesion ahead of the competitive season ahead.
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