Celtic vs FK Sarajevo Predictions

Celtic are hoping to wrap up this tie in style on Wednesday night, having already put one foot into the second round of the Champions League qualifiers. They are welcoming Sarajevo to Glasgow on Wednesday, following a comfortable win for the Bhoys in their first leg trip last week. That’s left Neil Lennon’s men well-placed for the next round, but how will they build on their first competitive game of the season?

Celtic were 3-1 victors in their visit to Bosnia last week, which kicked off a long road to the group stage for the Bhoys. They are expected to make the last 32 in the Champions League, despite starting their campaign this early. There’s a huge financial boost waiting for them if they can go all the way in this summer’s qualifiers, but the early stages of the Champions League are filled with top names from across Europe. Celtic need to be at their best for the bigger challenges to come.

While Celtic are ahead in this tie and set for the next round, there’s no need to rest players or any time to relax. They need the minutes, given that a tough qualifier could just be around the corner. We expect Lennon to take his strongest possible side into this game, which should make things difficult for the visitors. Sarajevo come here with poor form behind them in Europe, which has made them rank outsiders in this second leg.

The visitors have lost their last six Champions League ties, which suggests they’ll hardly be a test for Celtic this week. The visitors went out of the Europa League after a 10-2 aggregate defeat to Atalanta last term, so we can see the Bhoys racking up a decent advantage in this second leg too. After all, they’re in fine form at home in this competition, winning three of their last four qualifiers here.

Celtic started last season’s qualifying campaign by scoring three times in each of their opening three games. They were streets ahead of the opposition a year ago, and that is the case again here. The hosts should continue some good scoring form here, having found the net at least three times in five of their last seven home qualifiers. We’re backing over 2.5 goals for the hosts in Wednesday’s meeting.