---
title: "Celtic: Hoops may face an AC Milan side without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Europa League clash"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-hoops-may-face-an-ac-milan-side-without-zlatan-ibrahimovic-in-europa-league-clash/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2020-10-08T17:20:43Z"
modified: "2020-10-08T17:20:43Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops may face an AC Milan side without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Europa League clash

**On the 22nd October, [Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/?s=celtic) are due to start their Europa League group stage campaign [against](https://www.google.com/search?q=celtic+fixtures&oq=celtic+fixtures&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0l6j69i60.2326j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) Italian heavyweights AC Milan.**

It is an exciting fixture, but the news for now is more focused around the players who might not be able to feature as [Odsonne Edouard](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54443918) and [Ryan Christie](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12017/12098336/stuart-armstrong-tests-positive-for-covid-19-kieran-tierney-ryan-christie-to-self-isolate) are both currently having to isolate due to COVID-19.

This is also affecting AC Milan, and the Serie A side could be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the big match.

### Why could Celtic be facing a Milan side without Ibrahimovic?

The Swedish striker tested positive for COVID-19 back in [late September](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/zlatan-ibrahimovic-coronavirus-positive-symptoms-ac-milan-b574579.html). He is asymptomatic but until he returns a negative test, he is not able to feature for the Italian side.

\[freshpress-poll id=”329886″\]

This is his issue as [Gazzetta dello Sport](https://www.gazzetta.it/) are reporting, via [The Daily Record,](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/zlatan-ibrahimovic-celtic-doubt-milan-22812303) as he is still returning positive COVID tests.

### What Ibrahimovic’s possible absence means for Celtic

There is no doubting how good a forward AC Milan have in the Swede as he has managed 470 goals throughout his career, per [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zlatan-ibrahimovic/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/3455). His two spells at Milan have seen him score 70 goals in just 107 appearances and before he tested positive this term, he had scored two goals in his one Serie A game.

Therefore it will give the Celtic defence an easier task as they may not have to deal with the 6 foot 5 colossus, who is still performing at a top level despite being [39](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zlatan-ibrahimovic/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/3455).

They Italian giants don’t have the best strength in depth as Ante Rebic is currently [injured,](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ante-rebic/profil/spieler/187587) leaving them with just Rafael Leao and 18 year-old [Lorenzo Colombo](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lorenzo-colombo/profil/spieler/487843). Leao is only [21](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-leao/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/357164) himself, but has managed [eight goals in 36](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-leao/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/357164) appearances for his side. Make no mistake about it, Milan are a much less potent threat without their Swedish talisman.

***Celtic fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Comment below!***