Celtic play host to Zenit St. Petersburg on Thursday night.
Celtic icon Aiden McGeady has told the club’s official website that he expects his former side to knock Zenit St. Petersburg out of the Europa League, as the two sides meet on Thursday for the first leg.
Brendan Rodgers’ side play host to Roberto Mancini’s men at Celtic Park in the Europa League Round of 32, with the Hoops desperate to earn an advantage at home before going to Russia in a week’s time.
Zenit have not been in action for two months due to the winter break, but resume their domestic action in early March and Celtic could use that to their advantage after already playing six games this calendar year.
McGeady, who clocked up 193 Celtic appearances before moving to Russia with Spartak Moscow in 2010, did state that Zenit boast plenty of cash reserves and a strong squad but is confident Celtic can progress.
“It’ll be a difficult game, especially the away leg,” McGeady said. “Obviously they’ve got lots of money, a strong team and a good manager but you could say the same about Celtic in relative terms as well.
“Celtic have good momentum under Brendan Rodgers so they’re capable getting past them. It’s difficult to say, though, because Zenit are a bit of an unknown quantity. There’s no doubt it’ll be a really interesting game and as long as Celtic play to their best, they can progress.”
Celtic will be without a number of first-team stars as the treatment room becomes inundated with crocked players. Nir Bitton has been ruled out for the rest of the season, the latest of a long lost of casualties.
The versatile Israel international joins Craig Gordon, Anthony Ralston, Dedryck Boyata, Marvin Compper, Stuart Armstrong, Paddy Roberts, Jonny Hayes and Leigh Griffiths on the sidelines.
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