Charlie Nicholas expects Celtic to lose final Europa League group game against Cluj

Add as preferred source on Google

Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas expects his former club Celtic to lose their final match of the Europa League group stage against Cluj tonight.

The Romanian outfit knocked the Bhoys out of the Champions League qualification process but Neil Lennon’s side took a measure of revenge winning the first group meeting between the sides 2-0 at Parkhead.

And Nicholas said: “They got their 10th straight domestic trophy at the weekend – they were on their knees with exhaustion and tiredness, but they have been playing so many games. Cluj need to win to qualify with Celtic.

“Celtic lost the last time they played against Cluj [in the Champions League third qualifying round in August] and I expect the same to happen again. Neil Lennon will make five or six changes, as the job is done and he needs to focus more domestically. It has been an inspiring group stage for them, but I see them losing here. 1-0.”

TBR’s View – Lennon may as well rest players having already qualified in top spot

The cup final on Sunday will have taken a lot out of Celtic and having qualified in top spot already, Neil Lennon can take the opportunity to rest players.

Celtic already laid the Cluj ghosts to rest by beating them at home when it mattered in October and improved their European away record with the win in Lazio.

Losing isn’t ideal in terms of momentum but if it happens here, Lennon needs to see the bigger picture.