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Ange Postecoglou hails 'great pedigree' of Bayer Leverkusen before Celtic clash

Ange Postecoglou hails 'great pedigree' of Bayer Leverkusen before Celtic clash
© Reuters
The Bundesliga outfit are favourites to pick up their second Europa League Group G victory in Glasgow.

Ange Postecoglou is under no illusions about the size of the task that awaits Celtic when they face Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night.

The Bundesliga outfit are favourites to pick up their second Europa League Group G victory in Glasgow following their 2-1 home win over Hungarian side Ferencvaros on matchday one.

Postecoglou's side lost 4-3 to Real Betis in Spain in their opening fixture and go into the game on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Dundee United at the weekend which kept them in sixth place in the cinch Premiership, six points behind leaders Rangers, having collected 10 from seven matches.

The former Australia boss noted Leverkusen's strength, saying: "They are a side of great pedigree, they have outstanding individual players within their set-up.

"They are a fairly settled team, they haven't made a lot of changes from last year, so yes, they are a quality team, one of the best teams in Europe and they probably see themselves as a Champions League team.

"In terms of favourites in the group, Betis are a very good team, Ferencvaros gave Leverkusen a contest in the first game so that will bear out over time but no doubt they are a quality opponent, quality footballers and a challenge for us.

"We want to take it to them and they will certainly take it to us, we are going to get tested and hopefully it is a great game of football for our supporters to get excited about and hopefully we play our part in that."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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