Celtic v Lille: Is it on TV, who to watch, form guide, Europa League preview, last match

Neil Lennon. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Hoops are currently bottom of their Europa League group, and cannot mathematically qualify for the knockout rounds, but will also be aware that a poor run of results has left the Northern Irishman facing a backlash of criticism.

The Scottish champions are 13 points adrift of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership and have won just two of their last 12 matches.

Match Details

Who: Celtic v Lille

What: UEFA Europa League – Group H

Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow

When: 8pm, Thursday December 10th

How to watch

As usual, BT Sport will be broadcasting the Bhoys’ latest European escapade.

The match will be shown on BT Sport 3, with coverage beginning after Rangers’ clash with Lech Poznan, which is due to finish at around 7.40pm.

Alternatively, Celtic TV will be offering audio coverage via their subscription packages.

Who to watch

Lille have a squad packed with exciting attacking talent. The two Jonathans, David and Ikone, are always capable of posing a threat, while Hoops fans will have fond memories of young striker Timothy Weah after his loan spell in Glasgow last year.

Followers of the English game will recognise former Southampton defender Jose Fonte, while Renato Sanches – who spent a dismal loan spell with Swansea City – has revitalised himself France, but could miss Thursday's game with a muscle injury.

Opposition Form

Lille have barely put a foot wrong this term. The French outfit are pushing PSG all the way in Ligue 1, and currently sit top of Group H in the Europa League.

Since they last faced Celtic at the end of October, Christophe Galtier's men have only lost once – although it is worth pointing out that they have also dropped points on more than one occasion in that time.

Draws against Lyon, AC Milan, and St. Etienne have slowed their momentum a tiny bit, but they are still very much flying high at this present moment.

Previous Meetings

The one and only time that the two sides have met in competitive action came in late October, with the Hoops seeing a brace from Mohamed Elyounoussi cancelled out by a spirited fightback from their hosts in northern France.

To date, that match is also Lille’s only meeting with any Scottish side over the course of their European history.

For their part, Celtic have always had a fairly mixed time against French clubs.

The Bhoys have faced 19 encounters with teams from France in their history, winning six, drawing four, and losing nine.

Their most recent win came against Rennes last term, with the Glaswegian giants recording a 3-1 victory.

Lewis Morgan, Ryan Christie, and Michael Johnston were on target that night, with Celtic going on to seal their spot in the next round as group winners.

Lennon’s side took 13 points from six matches in last season’s group stage, but have only picked up a solitary point from their opening five fixtures this time around.