Feyenoord vs Celtic LIVE commentary: Scottish giants begin Champions League campaign – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Celtic will kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening as they travel to face Feyenoord, live on talkSPORT 2. 

The Scottish giants secured their place in UEFA’s premier competition by winning the league for the second campaign in a row last term. 

Celtic have been drawn in a very tough groupGetty

Treble-winning boss Ange Postecoglou has since moved on to Tottenham, with Brendan Rodgers returning to lead his side into Europe. 

And their first challenge comes against the Dutch champions who have scored 17 goals in their last three games in the Eredivisie. 

Feyenoord are the top seeds in Group E, with Celtic facing a tough challenge after also being drawn alongside Atletico Madrid and Lazio. 

Feyenoord vs Celtic: talkSPORT coverage 

This Champions League Group E clash will take place on Tuesday, September 19. 

Kick-off at Stadion Feijenoord is scheduled for 8pm UK time. 

talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all the action.

Commentary will come from Ian Danter and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

The game will also be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1. 

Feyenoord secured an automatic Champions League place by winning the EredivisieGetty

Feyenoord vs Celtic: Team news 

Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow will miss out on their Champions League opener after picking up an injury. 

Lutsharel Geertruisa and Ayase Ueda are also doubts for the game. 

Striker Santiago Gimenez is suspended for the Dutch side’s first two games in Europe and therefore will not be available to lead the line. 

As for Celtic, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki are set to be absent while on-loan Liverpool defender Nat Phillips will undergo a late fitness test. 

Phillips suffered a knock at the weekend against Dundee and has now become a doubt. 

Liel Abada has also been ruled out of this Group E clash. 

Key man Gimenez is suspended for FeyenoordGetty

Feyenoord vs Celtic: What has been said? 

Ahead of Celtic’s group stage opener, manager Rodgers has looked ahead to a ‘brilliant opportunity’. 

He said: “It’s a really exciting time. I know there always can be a wee bit of trepidation going into the Champions League and the level, but for me there is nothing but excitement.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for us playing in the elite competition in European club football.

“We are going to a real historical ground. We are coming off the back of a couple of really good wins in different ways.

“We will recover well, we will get our plan right and we will put out a team to get a result.

“We are really going to enjoy the Champions League. Listen, they are the Dutch champions so they will be a very good side.”

Rodgers is looking forward to leading his side into EuropeGetty

Feyenoord vs Celtic: Match facts  

James Forrest has made 23 appearances for Celtic in the UEFA Champions League, having featured in five different editions of the competition for the club. Should he play against Feyenoord, he’ll become the Scottish player with the second-most UEFA Champions League appearances for Celtic, behind only Scott Brown (34).In the UEFA Europa League last season, Feyenoord (104) were one of only three teams who recorded 100+ high turnovers, along with Roma (120) and Manchester United (112). Indeed, finalists Roma (69) were the only side who won possession in the final third more often than Feyenoord (64).This will be Brendan Rodgers’ first game as a manager in the UEFA Champions League since December 2017 (0-1 v Anderlecht), back in his first spell with current club Celtic. Since winning his first game in the competition with Liverpool in September 2014 (2-1 v Ludogorets), he has only overseen one victory in 17 games (D5 L11).Celtic have lost 58.3% of their UEFA Champions League games (42/72), the highest ratio of any side with at least 50 games in the competition.Feyenoord have never won their opening game of a UEFA Champions League campaign (D3 L2), after going unbeaten in all eight of their opening games in the European Cup between 1961-62 and 1984-85 (W6 D2).Celtic have won just one of their last 21 matches in the UEFA Champions League (D5 L15), and haven’t progressed past the group stages since 2012-13.After a run of eight consecutive UEFA Champions League defeats between 2002 and 2017, Feyenoord won their last game in the competition 2-1 against Napoli in December 2017.This is just Feyenoord’s sixth appearance in the UEFA Champions League, and first since the 2017-18 campaign. They’ve only made it past the first group stage once before (1999-00).Celtic have lost three of their last four away games against Dutch sides in all European competition (D1), with their last such win coming at Ajax in August 2001 (3-1 in UEFA Champions League qualifying).The only previous meeting between Feyenoord and Celtic was in the 1970 European cup final, with Feyenoord winning 2-1 to become the first Dutch side to lift the trophy.