Chelsea will face off against Celtic in a pre-season friendly at Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana, on Saturday.
This match is part of Chelsea’s preparations for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, while Celtic gears up for the new Scottish Premiership season.
Team Form
Chelsea’s Pre-Season Form
Chelsea began their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Wrexham. Despite taking an early lead through Christopher Nkunku, the Blues had to fight back with a late equaliser from Lesley Ugochukwu.
This match is part of a busy schedule in the United States, where they will also face Club America, Manchester City, and Real Madrid before returning to England for their final friendly against Inter Milan.
Chelsea has made several signings, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, aiming to bolster their squad for the upcoming season.
Celtic’s Pre-Season Form
Celtic has had a strong pre-season, with a notable 4-3 victory over Manchester City, which included key players like Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland.
Prior to this, Celtic enjoyed wins against Queen’s Park and DC United. Under Brendan Rodgers, Celtic looks well-prepared to defend their Scottish Premiership title, and they enter this match with high confidence following a string of positive results.
Team News
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea’s new signings Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Guiu are expected to feature again after their debuts against Wrexham.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is hopeful of making his first appearance if he overcomes a minor injury.
The squad may see rotations with players like Raheem Sterling, Malo Gusto, and Ben Chilwell potentially starting, while several players including Marc Cucurella and Conor Gallagher are absent due to international commitments.
Celtic Team News
Celtic might stick with the same lineup that defeated Manchester City.
Nicolas Kuhn, who scored a brace in that match, is expected to start alongside Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.
Veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will likely start again, providing stability at the back.
Match Prediction
Given Celtic’s impressive pre-season run and Chelsea’s need to integrate new signings and regain form, this match promises to be competitive.
Both teams have shown they can score goals, and another 2-2 draw seems a likely outcome, continuing Chelsea’s trend from their last match against Wrexham.
