Celtic are set to face Lazio in matchday two of the Champions League group stage at Celtic Park.

After being defeated 2-0 by Feyenoord in their opening game of the competition, the Scottish champions will be looking to bounce back in Group E, where their opponents drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid last time out.

Brendan Rodgers has some big decisions to make, especially with Gustaf Lagerbielke suspended after his red card in De Kuip, as well as selection quandaries in the wing areas following last weekend’s events at Fir Park, where Luis Palma excelled and broke his goalscoring duck for the club.

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With all of that being said, how will the team line up against Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio? Our writers have their say…

Ryan McGinlay

It really does feel like the excitement levels are building ahead of this tie. Despite being only in match number two, it really does feel like a must-win game for Rodgers and his side, especially if they want to qualify for Europe post-Christmas.

Despite his heroics at Fir Park last Saturday, Scott Bain will return to the bench for this one, as his place will be taken by Joe Hart. The Englishman will be hoping for a more consistent performance this time out against European opposition than he delivered versus Feyenoord, as the goalkeeper was culpable for the Dutch side’s first goal in Rotterdam.

The left and right-back positions pick themselves, as Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston will play on their respective sides of the pitch. The middle of the park is where there seems to be the most debate in the team, as Lagerbielke’s suspension makes selection a little bit more difficult for the incumbent manager. Despite the welcome news of Cameron Carter-Vickers’ injury return, he will not start this game, for a multitude of reasons. In light of this, it will be the defensive pairing that finished the game against Motherwell in Liam Scales and Nat Phillips that will deputise in this match.

The midfield – thankfully – is a much more settled place in terms of squad selections. Because of this, it will be the tried and trusted dynamic trio of captain Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate. Perhaps the only debate to be had is regarding where the latter two are situated, though it would not be a big surprise to see O’Riley operating in a deeper role, given his experience in playing the number six role last season. If Celtic are going to get any kind of positive result against Serie A’s runners-up, then this trio has to be on top of their game.

Leading the line will be the talismanic Kyogo Furuhashi, that very much is certain. But who will support him on either wing? In all honesty, there is only one place up for grabs, as Daizen Maeda’s work-rate off the ball and defensive output are going to be essential, especially against Lazio’s top-quality players. Therefore, it will be a battle between Yang Hyun-jun and the aforementioned Palma, which will surely be won by the latter, in the shape of Saturday’s goalscorer. His goal at Fir Park should propel him straight into the starting line-up, and hopefully, he will kick on from here and cement his place in Rodgers’ plans.

As mentioned before, this is a must-win game, so here’s hoping that the roar of the Celtic Park faithful can get the team over the line and back into proceedings in the group.

Ryan's team: Hart; Johnston, Phillips, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, O'Riley; Maeda; Hatate, Palma; Kyogo

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Tony Haggerty

This is a must-win Champions League Group E fixture for Celtic.

Recent history favours the men in green and white and they must look to the fact that they downed Lazio at both home and away in the Europa League group stage back in 2019 Both sides are entirely different proportions compared to back then but Celtic simply have to scratch that 10-year itch and finally reel off a Champions League group stage home win.

A win for the Scottish champions will throw them right back into the mix for qualification and Rodgers' men must settle for nothing less. Maurizio Sarri is bemoaning the fact that his side is plagued with injuries but it's not like the Italians to indulge in gamesmanship and histrionics - is it?

Celtic just needs to focus on the job at hand. Rodgers' side can be fiercely competitive in this match just as they were for large chunks of the match against Feyenoord in Rotterdam. The crowd will have their part to play, and they can help lift their heroes to great heights on what could be another famous European night in Glasgow's east end.

Hart will return in goals and it will be a back four of Johnston and Taylor at right and left back respectively, with Phillips partnering Scales in the heart of the defence.

It will be the status quo in midfield with skipper McGregor and Japanese playmaker Hatate aiming to prove that he has recovered from his head knock at Fir Park on Saturday. Hatate needs to put in a big performance on this stage if he is to celebrate his new deal with the club in style. Celtic's top goalscorer O'Riley will look to continue his rich vein of club and scoring form and how Rodgers could do with a counter from the Dane in this one.

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Up front, Honduran winger Palma got a real taste and feel for all things Celtic when he netted his first goal against Motherwell at the weekend. He will take his berth on the left wing and be called upon to conjure up more moments of magic if he can. Maeda will take his place on the right wing, and he will run his guts out again both in an attack and defence as he will be asked to give another one of those sacrificial performances for the team. Kyogo is still looking to claim his first Champions League group-stage goal for Celtic. There would be no better time than the present to end his seven-game drought at this level.

Tony's team:  Hart; Johnston, Phillips, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, O'Riley; Maeda. Kyogo, Palma.​