FC Astana v Celtic: Forrest can fire Bhoys to another Astana beating

FC Astana v Celtic
Tuesday August 22
Live on BT Sport

What a difference a year makes for the Bhoys

Celtic put one foot in the Champions League proper with a thumping win over Astana in Glasgow last Wednesday. The Bhoys claimed what was billed as a potential banana skin tie 5-0, oozing class in the process.

Brendan Rodgers now takes his in form Bhoys to Kazakhstan for the return leg on Tuesday evening already counting their prize money.

A measure of just how far Celtic have come on under former Liverpool boss Rodgers can be taken from how they performed last week. The Hoops staggered to a 2-1 win over the same opponent in this competition last year, needing a Moussa Dembele penalty in stoppage-time at the end of the match to get through. Astana finished with nine-men that day, and felt hard done by.

Fast-forward 12 months and Scottish football fans watched on in amazement as Celtic sent their rivals homewards to think again. Postnikov had the ball in his own net after 32 minutes, and that opened the floodgates. Scott Sinclair got a double, sparking a debate that he's ready for a call up to the full England squad, having represented his country at every level from U17 to U21. Forrest was also on the scoresheet, before Igor Shitov banked an own-goal. A generous bunch.

Punters now have a question to answer - will Rodgers set-up defensively, aiming to limit the danger and keep within that five-goal margin, or will they go and make a statement with a resounding win over two legs? A tough one to call.

No one would blame him for parking the bus, but this is an ambitious Celtic team, oozing class and eager to send a message to the competition's big guns. The days of Celtic being Champions League whipping boys are over.

Eighteen scored, one conceded - it's been Bhoys against men this month

A clue can be taken from how they set-up at the weekend when beating Kilmarnock 2-0 at Rugby Park. Another dominant display, the boss chose to rest a number of stars, making six changes to the team that beat Astana only a few days previously. That would suggest the Scottish treble winners are going to finish the job in style.

Celtic will be back to full-strength, but there's little doubt they'll look to hit on the counter. They are a well-organised side, conceding just one goal from six previous starts this month alone. To serve as a gentle reminder, they notched 18 goals of their own in the same period. So much for a striker crisis, star man Dembele out until at least next month. We're sure he'll make a full recovery in time to play in the next phase. The group stage of the Champions League works better than a magic sponge.

Celtic favourites but deservedly so

It'll come as little surprise to see the away win marked as favourite, despite making the monster trip to Kazakhstan. How could we bet against Celtic after last week's score? The visitors will aim to hit on the counter, and to achieve that they'll ask speedster James Forrest to do his thing.

Forrest can fell the Astana defence

The 26-year-old winger was on the scoresheet against Rosenborg, Astana in the first leg and that strike against Kilmarnock at the weekend. Eagle-eyed backers would've had the notebook out when the player was hooked off after 70 minutes, surely to protect him for Tuesday. Back Forrest to score first at 13/2 with Betfair. Those after a bit of a safety net will be delighted to see 23/10 in the anytime scorer market, both on the sportsbook.

Astana may get their consolation

Backing Celtic on the exchange will net you 2.66, but those happy to take a shot at the value can try their luck on both teams to score and Celtic to win at 18/5 on the Sportsbook. The Bhoys have already given us a taste of what lies ahead this season, but they'll find a wounded animal in The Blue and Yellows.

Recommended Bets 
Back James Forrest to score first @ 13/2, and any time @ 23/10
Back Celtic win/BTTS double @ 18/5