FC Midtjylland - Celtic FC

Midtjylland have won their last two home Champions League qualifying ties by three clear goals.
Celtic have lost four of their last seven European games by more than one goal.
Celtic were thrashed 6-2 at home by West Ham on Saturday.
The Wolves can pick over Celtic’s bones
Midtjylland start Wednesday’s home second leg against Celtic level on aggregate but with a much brighter outlook following the two sides’ respective weekend displays.

The Danish club picked up a very useful league win away at Aalborg, who were unbeaten in their five previous home games, while Celtic were embarrassed at Parkhead by West Ham.

FCM coach Bo Henriksen changed to a 3-4-3 formation on Saturday and his young side benefitted greatly from the solid platform that an extra central defender provided.

It also allowed the full-backs, who were pinned back by Celtic in the first half of the first-leg, to offer more in attack.

So much is going wrong in the east end of Glasgow right now it’s difficult to see how they can make it into the group stages even if they somehow progress on Wednesday.

They are woefully short in central defence, where youngster Dane Murray will start in place of the suspended Nir Bitton because new signing Carl Starfelt is still in quarantine.

The midfield looks short on numbers – and leadership too since the summer exit of Scott Brown – while Odsonne Edouard continues to be linked with a move away and can look disinterested during games.

The most likely outcome is a Midtjylland win and the odds for the second leg reflect that, but there will be opportunities for the Danes to embellish the scoreline based on the Hoops’ capitulation at the weekend.

West Ham were virtually walking goals into the net in the second half of that 6-2 demolition and Ange Postecoglou is likely to go with a very similar line-up due to lack of options.

Celtic conceded 19 goals in their six Europa League group games last season and were beaten by more than a one-goal margin four times.

So our forecast is for a handsome home win this week and a 3-1 correct score prediction because Celtic did at least manage to score in all six of those 2020-21 group games.