Star midfielder Hans Vanaken transformed the spot-kick. He’s a person that’s as revered in West Flanders as Dalglish is in east Glasgow.
Solely compatriots Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Kevin De Bruyne are higher-scoring Belgians within the Champions League, having taken his tally into double figures in opposition to Villa to attract degree with Eden Hazard.
Vanaken, who was with Belgium at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, stays an essential a part of Nicky Hayen’s aspect. He’s their captain and can seemingly smash the 500-appearance mark this season if he stays match.
Hayen himself changed former Celtic supervisor Ronny Deila on the membership having beforehand been answerable for the much-vaunted youth workforce, Membership NXT, the place he labored with Celtic midfielder Arne Engels.
The 44-year-old is their fifth supervisor since Rangers boss Phillipe Clement’s profitable time in cost, the place he led them to back-to-back titles.
He’ll, nevertheless, be with out a number of key gamers for a match they might be viewing as a must-win.
Sweden worldwide striker Gustaf Neilsen, younger Dutch expertise Bjorn Meijer, Norway midfielder Hugo Vetlesen and Belgium prospect Hugo Siquet are all on the sidelines together with former Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata, who’s now within the twilight of his taking part in profession.
There will probably be essential roles for Kasper Schmeichel’s Danish colleague Andreas Skov Olsen and Greece worldwide Christos Tzolis on the wings, the latter scoring 4 of Brugge’s seven in opposition to Sint-Truiden on the weekend.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet wants no introduction to Brendan Rodgers after they labored collectively at Liverpool, whereas full-backs Maxim De Cuyper and Hugo Seys, together with the likes of Engels and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere, are hoping to turn into Belgium’s new golden technology.
Celtic are some extent forward of the Belgians going into matchday 5 and each side know a victory would all however seal their passage to, no less than, the knockout play-off spherical and a step nearer Dalglish’s zenith.