RB Leipzig’s striker André Silva has laid it out plainly – tomorrow night’s clash at Celtic Park is nothing short of a final for the German side.
After a rough start in the Champions League, Silva and his teammates are under pressure to secure a victory. The Portuguese international admits that their European dreams hang by a thread.
Leipzig have been competitive but unlucky, narrowly losing all their league phase matches so far.
Celtic, meanwhile, sit on four points after three games, with hope still alive for a spot in the knockout stages.
The Hoops will be eager to leverage their home advantage against a Leipzig side scrambling for survival in the competition.
Speaking on the challenge ahead, Silva said [RecordSport]: “This match against Celtic is like a final for us. We need a victory to stay alive in this competition.
“With zero or one point from four matches, only a miracle would see us progress to the next stage of the Champions League. We are not a bad team but in the matches so far, luck was absent for us.”
Silva acknowledged Celtic’s formidable presence at home, a factor that’s given pause to many teams. “They have four points already and they’re very strong at home,” he admitted.
“That’s a warning to us. It won’t be an easy match for us and we’ll need an enormous effort from the first minute to win.”
Leipzig manager Marco Rose will be banking on a spirited performance from his side, yet the urgency could also work against them, leaving openings for Celtic to exploit.
For the Bhoys, three points would be a huge step towards reaching the last 16 play-offs, with their hopes for the knockout stages hinging on results at Celtic Park.
Kick-off is set for 8pm, and it’s all to play for as Celtic look to springboard their European dream and Leipzig fights to keep theirs alive.
