Celtic predicted XI vs Atalanta: Brendan Rodgers to make 1 change as key defender hands Hoops major blow

The Hoops are in Italy to face Atalanta on matchday three on their Champions League campaign

Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic squad return to Champions League action tonight against Serie A outfit Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium.

In his absence, Celtic have conceded 12 goals in five games. Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to get him back into the starting XI, with the player spotted back in full training this morning at Celtic Park. | SNS Group

placeholder image — In his absence, Celtic have conceded 12 goals in five games. Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to get him back into the starting XI, with the player spotted back in full training this morning at Celtic Park. | SNS Group

Currently sat in 20th place in the 36-team League Path of the competition with one win and one defeat so far, the Hoops will be determined to bounce back from their 7-1 mauling at the hands of Borussia Dortmund last time out , while the hosts are searching for keep up their unbeaten start after backing up their goalless draw with Arsenal with a 3-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Rodgers has been without defensive mainstay Cameron Carter-Vickers in recent weeks through injury, and despite the American centre-back taking part in a training session at Celtic Park on Tuesday morning, he has been ruled out of the clash in Bergamo through injury and didn’t travel with the team.

WATCH OUR WRITERS DISCUSS CELTIC’S 2-2 DRAW WITH ABERDEEN AND RANGERS DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT IN KILMARNOCK

Left-back Greg Taylor also joins Carter-Vickers on the sidelines once more, with Rodgers confirming: “Cam hasn’t travelled. Greg hasn’t travelled as well. Greg should join the group on Friday. Cam, we will see when we get back.”

Having dropped their first points of the domestic season with a four-goal thriller against closest challengers Aberdeen at the weekend, the Parkhead side will need to tighten up defensively to keep the in-form Italians at bay.

So who will be in and who will be out? We expect Rodgers to makes only one change from Saturday’s 2-2 draw vs Aberdeen with Reo Hatate dropping to the bench and Paulo Bernardo handed a starting berth. Here’s who we think will be involved:

Predicted starting XI (4-3-3): Kasper Schmeichel; Alistair Johnston, Austin Trusty, Liam Scales, Alex Valle; Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Paulo Bernardo; Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi.