How Hibs can beat Celtic and why they should hold no fear despite Bayern Munich showing

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Anyone connected with Hibs watching Celtic play Bayern on Wednesday could have been forgiven for thinking ‘oh no’.

The Hibees are the next side that the Scottish champions will play when they meet in a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

And they would have been looking on as Brendan Rodgers’ side pushed the Bundesliga side all the way until conceding a sickening late goal to send them spinning out of the Champions League.

Hibs yesterday learnt the date of their Scottish Cup clash against Celtic but they must concentrate on league business first when the league leaders come to the capital.

David Gray’s side are unbeaten since an away defeat to the Hoops but their display on that day suggested they can take the game to them.

Six wins and a draw in the Premiership since then has the Leith men in a good place.

They will hope to keep that momentum going with a result on Saturday.

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What Hibs need to do vs Celtic after Bayern game

Playing Celtic can be daunting at any time let alone just after they’ve just shown they’re at the top of their game against one of the best sides in Europe.

But Tam McManus reckons there is something else to take from that game – using the Scottish side’s performance as a blueprint on how to actually play against them.

The former Easter Road striker also thinks it could be tough for the Hoops players to get themselves going again for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

He said in the Daily Record: “David Gray and his Hibs players would have watched Celtic against Bayern Munich.

“As they did so, I hope they were inspired by what they were seeing and not intimidated. Viewing that game, you could understand just how good Celtic are at the moment, how much they have progressed and held their own against superior opposition. But, at the same time, you’d also have been provided an ideal template on how Hibs can do to Brendan Rodgers’ side what they did to the Germans.

“Celtic were really impressive on Tuesday night, probably the best I’ve seen them away from home in Europe for a long time. If you’re the Hibs boys and coaching staff, you’re looking at some of their players and their performances and thinking: We’re up against it at the weekend, but at the end of the day, we’ve nothing to lose. Hibs are on a good run themselves at the minute and, being truthful, I’d suggest the gap between them and Celtic is something similar to the gap between Celtic and Bayern, really.

“It’s massive, yet that match in Germany just shows you that on any given day, if one team doesn’t particularly hit their heights, and I don’t think Bayern were great and Celtic played out of their skin, then you can go and get a result. Celtic very nearly got one, so, as I say, while you’d respect their strength on one hand, you’d also get pointers on how to give them a taste of their own medicine.

“Rodgers’ team were sapped at the end having put so much into it and that’s a really tough midweek game away from home in Europe, so Hibs have to come out at home fast and aggressive. You are on your own patch and playing well. Everybody expects Celtic to win, so do what Rodgers’ team did in Munich, be brave and have a go, and I think you have a much more realistic chance of doing it at home.”

Hibs have turned a corner defensively

McManus added: “There’s definitely been a big turnaround in Hibs defensively since the 3-3 game with Aberdeen at home. Bar the Rangers game, another 3-3, it’s been a lot more solid and Rocky Bushiri’s been superb in the last five or six games.

“He’s really shut his critics up and players like him will again need to stand up and be counted, making sure the team is hard to break down and trying to frustrate Celtic.

“Then, at the other end, you’ve got pace on the counter with the likes of Martin Boyle and you can see what you can do from there. Hibs obviously go into it as underdogs, but I think they showed against Rangers at home that they have got both character and goals in their ranks.

“If they can keep it tight at the back, and do some of the things to Celtic that the Glasgow side did so well against Bayern, Hibs can get something out of this extreme test.