BRENDAN Rodgers’ Celtic side is continuing their pre-season tour in Asia, with their second friendly match scheduled against Gamba Osaka this Saturday.
This follows a thrilling encounter against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday morning, which saw the Scottish giants lose 6-4 in a high-scoring affair.
Despite the loss, the match against Yokohama F. Marinos, who are the reigning champions and currently sit second in the J-League, provided a valuable opportunity for Celtic’s players to gain match fitness against a side that is already halfway through their season. The same is expected from the upcoming match against Gamba Osaka, who currently occupy the 13th spot in the J-League.
The pre-season friendlies in Asia are part of Celtic’s preparations for the upcoming season. These matches against J-League teams offer a different challenge compared to their usual opponents, testing the squad’s adaptability and resilience.
TV/Stream
The same as Wednesday, the only way to watch the encounter will be through Celtic TV.
Where
The match will take place in the Panasonic Stadium. The 40,000-seater stadium is in the city of Osaka and is used for international matches.
When
The game will kick off on Saturday at 11 am CPT, and 7 pm local time.
Team News
CCV, Alistair Johnston, Mikey Johnston, Anthony Ralston and Marco Tilio will miss the match through injury. Brendan Rodgers has also said that Kyogo is struggling with a shoulder injury.
The upcoming match against Gamba Osaka will provide another opportunity for Rodgers’ side to improve their match fitness and work on their tactics. Despite Gamba Osaka’s lower league position, they will pose a unique challenge for Celtic, testing their ability to adapt to different styles of play. While he’ll no doubt allow many players to get a run out.
