MX23RW : Friday, August 6 05:23:41| >> :120:17580:17580:
Jul 10, 2021 at 3pm UK at The Valley
CharltonCharlton Athletic
1-2
Celtic
FT(HT: 0-2)
Dembele (27'), Ajeti (40')

Preview: Charlton Athletic vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Pre-Season Friendlies clash between Charlton Athletic and Celtic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ange Postecoglou will take charge of his second game as Celtic manager on Saturday when the Scottish side meet League One outfit Charlton Athletic in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly.

The match will be played at Dragon Park, the Welsh National Football Development Centre in Newport, with both clubs currently on training camps in South Wales.


Match preview

Celtic's Callum McGregor with teammates before the match in March 2021© Reuters

More than 100 days after Neil Lennon resigned from his post, Postecoglou was appointed as Celtic boss last month, following Eddie Howe's decision to pull out of a move north of the border.

The Australian, who left Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos, said "it doesn't really bother me" when asked if he had concerns over being second choice.

Postecoglou admitted that the most important thing would be to bring success to Celtic, after their run of nine successive league titles was brought to an end by Rangers last season.

Goals from Albian Ajeti, Owen Moffatt and Odsonne Edouard helped the Bhoys come from behind to win 3-1 against Sheffield Wednesday in their first pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

After Saturday, Celtic will make the short trip across the Severn Bridge to face Bristol City next week, before flying back to Glasgow to take on Preston North End ahead of the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie against FC Midtjylland.

Nigel Adkins in charge of Hull City on November 24, 2018© Reuters

Charlton have ambitions of their own for the 2021-22 campaign, with the Addicks looking to win promotion back to the Championship.

The South East London club finished seventh in League One last season, only missing out on a playoff place on goal difference despite beating third tier winners Hull City on the final day.

Nigel Adkins was appointed manager in mid-March following Lee Bowyer's departure to Birmingham City and lost just one of the final 10 games of the campaign (W5 D4), while no League One side conceded fewer goals in that period.

It means that hopes are high at The Valley, particularly because Adkins already has two promotions to the Championship on his CV with Scunthorpe United and Southampton.

Also on Charlton's pre-season scheduled are fixtures against Dartford, Reading, Crystal Palace and Fulham before they begin the League One season against Sheffield Wednesday on August 7.

Celtic Pre-Season Friendlies form:
  • W


Team News

Ange Postecoglou pictured in November 2020© Reuters

Charlton have made four signings so far this summer and Saturday could see first appearances for George Dobson and Craig MacGillivray, as well as the returning Jayden Stockley and Akin Famewo.

Chris Gunter was part of Wales's squad at Euro 2020 so will have been given a break following the tournament, meaning he is not available for this match.

Jake Forster-Caskey, who has recently signed a new contract with the Addicks, suffered an ACL injury in the penultimate game of last season against Lincoln City so is another who will not feature.

With several Celtic players not yet back in training after representing Scotland at Euro 2020, Ange Postecoglou gave opportunities to several youngsters against Sheffield Wednesday and should do the same here.

Summer signing Osaze Urhoghide could be in line for his debut after not featuring against the Owls, a game in which fellow new boy Liam Shaw played for the first time.

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Matthews, Inniss, Famewo, Purrington; Jaiyesimi, Dobson, Morgan, Gilbey; Stockley, Washington

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Ralston, Welsh, Murray, Urhoghide; Soro, Shaw, Connell; Moffat, Henderson; Ajeti


SM words green background

We say: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Celtic

While Celtic are still missing many of their key players, they should still have enough quality to beat Charlton, who are a similar level of opposition to the Sheffield Wednesday team the Bhoys got past on Wednesday. Postecoglou will want to grow confidence as much as possible going into the new season.



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How you voted: Charlton vs Celtic

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Draw
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Celtic
62.1%
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Friday's key events


HOCKEY
· Great Britain's women aim to secure their place on the podium as they face India in the bronze medal match (2.30am)
· Netherlands - silver medallists five years ago - and Argentina battle for the gold medal in the women's final (11am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· The women's gold medal will be decided as Australia and USA go head to head (3.30am)

BOXING
· Lauren Price will be looking to add to Team GB's success in the ring when she takes on Nouchka Fontijn of Netherlands in the women's middleweight semi-final (6am)

DIVING
· Tom Daley already has one Olympic gold to his name in Tokyo, and he begins his bid for second in the men's 10m platform. Teammate Noah Williams is also involved in the preliminary round (7am)

CYCLING
· Jason Kenny's reign as sprint king may be over, but Jack Carlin looked strong in his bid to succeed his compatriot. He takes on Harrie Lavreysen in his sprint semi-final (8.10am), with the final taking place later in the day (10.35am)
· The women's madison makes its Olympic debut at the velodrome as Team GB duo Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny look to add another medal to their collections (9.15am)

FOOTBALL
· Hosts Japan will look to get themselves on the podium as they face Mexico in the men's bronze medal match (10am)
· The women's champions will be crowned as both Sweden and Canada aim to win Olympic gold for the very first time (1pm)

ATHLETICS
· The men's 5000m final includes Great Britain's Andrew Butchart, but most eyes will be on Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei (1pm)
· Team GB's Jodie Williams will hope to get on the podium in the women's 400m final, but defending champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo is favourite for gold while Stephenie Ann McPherson should challenge and Allyson Felix is bidding to become the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time (1.35pm)
· Netherlands' Sifan Hassan takes on leg two of her ambitious attempt at a Tokyo treble in a women's 1500m final which also includes Great Britain's Laura Muir and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya (1.50pm)
· A star-studded women's 4x100m relay final will see a Team GB quartet including Dina Asher-Smith look to upset defending champions USA and favourites Jamaica, who boast Elaine Thompson-Herah as she goes for her third gold of the Games (2.30pm)
· Great Britain and Jamaica will also be going for gold in the men's 4x100m relay final, and their medal hopes have been boosted by USA's failure to qualify (2.50pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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