Celtic and Athletic Bilbao are set to face off in a friendly match on Tuesday night. Celtic have been busy with their summer friendlies, including a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This match will be their final friendly before their Scottish Premiership opener against Ross County. They have made several additions to their squad this summer, including Maik Nawrocki and Odin Thiago Holm. On the other hand, Jota has left the club for Al Ittihad in a big-money deal. Celtic won the Scottish Premiership last season and will be looking to make a strong start in their league campaign.
Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, have played four friendlies so far, with their last match resulting in a defeat against Gimnastic Torrelavega. They have two more pre-season games before their La Liga opener against Real Madrid. Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Javier Marton are their new signings, while Inigo Martinez has left the club. Despite speculation surrounding the futures of Inaki Williams and Nico Williams, Athletic has managed to keep them in the squad. They finished eighth in La Liga last season and will be aiming to secure a European finish this time around.
In terms of team news, Celtic’s head coach Brendan Rodgers is expected to field a strong forward line consisting of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda, and Kyogo Furuhashi. Matt O’Riley and Callum McGregor will start in central midfield, with James Forrest likely to come off the bench. Athletic Bilbao is likely to start with a familiar lineup, featuring Nico Williams, Ander Herrera, and Inaki Williams. However, there are doubts over the availability of Yeray Alvarez due to injury.
Both teams will be looking for a competitive match, and a tight encounter is predicted. Celtic have a slight advantage in terms of preparation, but Athletic Bilbao is a strong team. The match is expected to finish in a draw.
Overall, this friendly match between Celtic and Athletic Bilbao will serve as a final test for both teams before their respective league campaigns begin.
