Villarreal welcomes Scottish club Celtic on Tuesday (30 September 2008) in a Group E Champions leagu encounter. The match will take place at Estadio El Madrigal. Villarreal started their Champions league campaign with a goalless draw against Manchester Untied away. Celtic also started their mission Europe with a goalless home draw against Danish Champion AaB Aalborg. Both Villarreal and Celtic stand second in their respective domestic leagues.
Match: Villarreal vs Celtic, Group E, Champions League 2008-2009
Date: 30 September 2008, Tuesday
Venue: Estadio El Madrigal
Kick off: 19:45 BST (British Standard Time)
Villarreal secures the second place with 13 points from five matches. Scottish club Celtic occupies second place with 16 points from seven outings. Their recent form is satisfactory well. Villarreal won five out of their seven matches in all competitions with the other two matches being drawn. Celtic also won five out of their last seven games overall, but they lost a league match against arch-rival Rangers.
In terms of strength and recent form, both the clubs seem to be equal. So, I think, it would be an exciting match and a very close match. Celtic midfielder Barry Robson is available for selection for the encounter against Villarreal after recovering from groin strain. Defender Andreas Hinkel has been ruled out of the match with thigh injury. In his absence, Mark Wilson will continue his job at right-back position. Moreover, Gary Caldwell has returned from suspension and will be considered for the first team contention for the match against Villarreal. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan might have to take a tricky decision to choose between two in-from strikers: Jan Vennegoor and Georgios Samaras, if he decides to feature one striker in the starting line up.
Villarreal is also hit by injury. Nihat Kahveci is forced out with injury and striker Giuseppe Rossi si expected to replace his place. He limped off the ground at the half time in Villarreal’s recent 1-0 victory over Sporting Gijon. Midfielder Matias Fernandez, who was also came off at the half time in that match, has been out with injury. Defender Pascal Cygan has been out of the 19-member squad of Villarreal for the Celtic encounter. New signing Jozy Altidore will also miss the important match.
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