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• Leipzig have 'everything you would want' – Celtic boss Rodgers

  Celtic may be four points clear of RB Leipzig in the Champions League, but Brendan Rodgers is not underestimating the challenge that his side face on Tuesday.

  The Hoops welcome Leipzig to Celtic Park on matchday four, for what will be the fifth meeting between the sides.

  Leipzig have won three of the previous four encounters, with Celtic winning 2-1 in a Europa League match in November 2018.

  While Leipzig, who are second in the Bundesliga, have lost all of their Champions League matches this term, Celtic bounced back from their heavy defeat to Borussia Dortmund by holding Atalanta to a 0-0 draw in their last European outing.

  Rodgers' team come into Tuesday's clash on the back of a resounding 6-0 defeat of Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, but Rodgers knows his side are in for a stern test.

  "Leipzig are no different to Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta," said Rodgers. "A top team. They have everything you would want - speed, power, technique.

  "It's a brilliant challenge for us."

  After conceding seven goals against Dortmund on MD2, Rodgers explained Celtic knew they had to step up.

  "You always have to learn and be better and we were against Atalanta, a really outstanding team," said Rodgers, who were perhaps fortunate not to concede against the Serie A side, given they conceded 2.4 expected goals (xG).

  "We'll look to bring our energy to the game but we also know we'll have to defend for good periods of the game, play with concentration and commitment like we did against Atalanta," he said.

  "There will be moments when we press with aggression and moments where we have to be controlled. Top teams will push you back and you have to have resilience."

  After a run of 12 home games without a win at Celtic Park in the Champions League between 2013 and 2023 (D3 L9), Celtic have won their last two home games. They last had three wins in a row back in November 2007 under manager Gordon Strachan.

  "Home games are very important at this level and when you want the result the supporters can bring you closer to that," said Rodgers.

  "What the noise generates here is absolutely incredible.

  "We will also need that bit of patience as well because we have to be educated in our pressure.

  "We've got ourselves into a really good position after three games and now we have another opportunity to show we can pick up a result against a top team."

• Neymar suffers fresh injury blow

  Neymar sustained a new injury as he was forced off during Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite win over Esteghlal.

  Aleksandar Mitrovic plundered a hat-trick on Monday to seal a 3-0 win.

  But Al-Hilal's victory was soured by an injury to Neymar, who had to make way just 29 minutes after he came on as a second-half substitute.

  The Brazilian, who has just returned from over a year out of action following a serious knee injury, was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh issue.

  Indeed, Monday's appearance was only the 32-year-old's second for Al-Hilal since his comeback.

  He has featured just seven times for the Saudi Pro League champions in all competitions since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

• Gasperini plays down Atalanta Scudetto talk despite Napoli rout

  Gian Piero Gasperini played down talk of Atalanta competing for the Scudetto despite their 3-0 humbling of Serie A leaders Napoli on Sunday.

  Atalanta triumphed 3-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Ademola Lookman scoring a first-half brace before Mateo Retegui made the points safe for La Dea.

  They are now up to third in the table, just three points behind leaders Napoli and two adrift of reigning champions Inter in second.

  Gasperini's team have been tipped to challenge for the title after inflicting Antonio Conte's first three-goal defeat in a home Serie A match since 2009, but he is simply taking things one game at a time.

  "There are still 27 matches to go, and if you see Atalanta as winning the Scudetto I respect your opinion," he told reporters.

  "However all the games are different, I don't know if we will always manage to have such a strong structure. 

  "If we manage to widen the circle a bit with other players we will progress but we will see further on."

   

  Gasperini added integrating Atalanta's new players will be key, given the rigours of combining a title push with a potential Champions League run.

  "The core of the team is very strong because last year we faced the Europa League and secured a Champions League spot, playing every three days," he said.

  "We lost Koop [Teun Koopmeiners] but we've brought in several players, with Retegui adapting the quickest. 

  "How well we can integrate these new players will determine our competitiveness."

  Vice-captain Marten de Roon echoed those sentiments, saying: "Our team achieved a great result, we showed that we are at a high level. 

  "We are not thinking about the Scudetto yet, it is a word very far from our objective. We must remain humble; at the end of the championship we will see where we get to. 

  "We have a very clear way of playing, always pressing high to keep the attackers high."