Celtic vs Beşiktaş Predicted Lineups and Team News

Celtic welcome Beşiktaş to Celtic Park in a UEFA Europa League league-stage clash that could prove pivotal in shaping the early qualification picture. Both sides are still at the very start of their continental campaign in terms of group points, but the overall ranking hints at different expectations: Celtic are currently listed 9th in the league-stage table, while Beşiktaş sit higher in 5th place. With the league round format funnelling teams toward the play-offs, every fixture and every point carries weight.

Standings data shows both clubs yet to play in this Europa League season in terms of goals for and against, so this contest doubles as a tone-setter. Beşiktaş arrive with strong recent form in all competitions, while Celtic are more of an unknown quantity at this level in the current campaign. That makes predicted lineups and the expected starting lineup particularly important for bettors and analysts trying to understand where the early edge may lie.

With no official team sheets available yet, this preview focuses on analytically predicted lineups, squad depth, and key contributors such as Orkun Kökçü and Tiago Djaló for Beşiktaş. The atmosphere at Celtic Park should be intense, and how both managers set up tactically will go a long way toward deciding whether this becomes a statement home performance or another strong away result for the Turkish side.

Celtic Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Celtic enter this Europa League fixture without any confirmed injury or suspension issues in the available data. No significant absences reported. That gives the manager the freedom to select from a deep squad featuring multiple options in every line, from three senior goalkeepers to an experienced defensive core and a mix of creative and hard-working midfielders.

With no recent Europa League form string recorded and no clear competitive pattern yet this season, Celtic are expected to lean on experience and balance. The likely approach is a proactive but controlled game at home: building from the back through composed defenders like C. Carter-Vickers and K. Tierney, while using energetic midfielders such as C. McGregor and A. Oxlade-Chamberlain to link play and support a mobile front line. The starting lineup is expected to blend established names with a couple of attacking threats capable of stretching Beşiktaş in transition.

Celtic Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: V. Sinisalo
DF: C. Carter-Vickers; A. Johnston; K. Tierney; L. Scales
MF: C. McGregor; A. Oxlade-Chamberlain; O. Sørensen; L. McCowan; Yang Hyun-Jun
FW: K. Høgh

This predicted lineup for Celtic is built around a solid defensive platform and a technically strong midfield. V. Sinisalo is a logical choice in goal, backed by a back line with both physicality and ball-playing ability in Carter-Vickers and Tierney, plus the reliable A. Johnston and L. Scales providing width and defensive cover. That unit should allow Celtic to maintain a compact defensive block while still supporting attacks down the flanks.

In midfield, C. McGregor is expected to act as the central metronome, recycling possession and dictating tempo. A. Oxlade-Chamberlain brings European experience and ball-carrying ability between the lines, while O. Sørensen adds energy and defensive work rate. L. McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun can operate in advanced or wide roles, offering dribbling and movement to create overloads. Up front, K. Høgh profiles as the focal point, tasked with occupying Beşiktaş’s centre-backs, attacking crosses, and finishing moves. Without clear Europa League scoring stats yet for Celtic, the attacking responsibility is likely to be shared across this front and midfield unit.

Beşiktaş Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Beşiktaş arrive in Glasgow in excellent overall form. Their recent league record shows 5 wins and 1 loss in the last 6 matches, with 8 goals scored and just 1 conceded. The form string in domestic and continental action reads “WWWWWL”, underlining their momentum. Defensively they have kept 5 clean sheets in those 6 games, and their attack averages around 1.3 goals per match.

No injuries or suspensions are recorded for Beşiktaş ahead of this Europa League fixture, so once again: No significant absences reported. That allows the coach to field a strong and settled side. The lineups today are expected to reflect the patterns seen in recent matches, where Beşiktaş have alternated between a single-pivot system and a more attacking shape. Their lineup data shows they have most often used a 4-1-4-1 and occasionally a 4-3-3, suggesting flexibility between a controlled midfield block and a more front-foot pressing structure.

Beşiktaş Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Nübel
DF: Tiago Djaló; A. Murillo; E. Agbadou; R. Yılmaz
MF: W. Ndidi; S. Özcan; K. Yılmaz; O. Kökçü; V. Černý
FW: D. Vlahović

This predicted Beşiktaş starting lineup is built around their key statistical leaders and recent tactical tendencies. In goal, A. Nübel is the standout senior option. At the back, Tiago Djaló is a central figure: he appears not only among the top performers in the Europa League but also in the top yellow and red card lists, underlining his aggressive, front-foot defending. Partnered by A. Murillo and E. Agbadou, with R. Yılmaz providing dynamism on the flank, Beşiktaş should have both aerial dominance and recovery pace.

In midfield, W. Ndidi offers ball-winning presence in front of the defence, with S. Özcan and K. Yılmaz giving passing lanes and positional balance. The creative and attacking focal point is O. Kökçü, who stands out as Beşiktaş’s top Europa League scorer so far with 2 goals and also appears among the top assist providers. His dual role as scorer and creator makes him the key link between midfield and attack. V. Černý adds width and direct running from midfield or wide areas. Up front, D. Vlahović is the natural spearhead from the available squad list, expected to attack crosses and benefit from Kökçü’s service.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no missing players recorded for either side, the injury and suspension situation is unusually clean for a European fixture of this magnitude. That means the tactical battle will be decided more by selection choices and in-game adjustments than by enforced changes.

Celtic Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Beşiktaş Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

The predicted Celtic setup suggests a home side looking to combine defensive security with controlled possession and quick transitions. With experienced defenders like Carter-Vickers and Tierney plus a technically strong midfield led by McGregor and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Celtic can build from deep and attempt to pin Beşiktaş back, especially down the flanks where Yang Hyun-Jun and L. McCowan can attack one-on-one situations. K. Høgh’s presence as a central striker offers a target for crosses and knockdowns, crucial against a physically imposing Beşiktaş back line.

Beşiktaş, however, come into the match with a far stronger recent record. Their defensive numbers are outstanding: only 1 goal conceded in 6 games, with 5 clean sheets, and a defensive index in recent matches that highlights their organisation. With Ndidi screening a back four anchored by Tiago Djaló, they are well-equipped to absorb pressure and then break quickly. The attacking structure built around O. Kökçü – who already has 2 Europa League goals – and wide threats like V. Černý can exploit any gaps left by Celtic’s full-backs. The key battle will likely be in central midfield: if McGregor and Oxlade-Chamberlain can play through Ndidi and S. Özcan, Celtic can control territory; if Beşiktaş win the duels there, their transitions into Kökçü and Vlahović could decide the game.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Outcome probabilities for this fixture are almost perfectly balanced: the prediction model gives Celtic a 33% chance to win, the draw at 33%, and Beşiktaş also at 33%. With no clear favourite and no specific scoreline forecast, the market and statistical view is that this is a genuinely even contest, heavily influenced by home advantage on one side and recent form on the other.

Celtic’s home environment at Celtic Park and a full-strength squad argue for a competitive performance, but Beşiktaş’s excellent recent form – 5 wins from their last 6, a strong attacking output, and a defence that rarely concedes – suggests they are well-positioned to avoid defeat. With such evenly split win probabilities and no goals projection provided, a cautious expectation is for a tight game that could easily end level, with Beşiktaş perhaps slightly more likely to edge it if they convert their transitions.

Predicted Outcome: Celtic 1–1 Beşiktaş

How to Watch Celtic vs Beşiktaş Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local sports broadcaster / streaming platform
• UK: National pay-TV sports channel or official UEFA partner
• USA / North America: Major soccer-focused streaming service
• South America: Regional cable sports network
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports broadcaster