In recent seasons the third qualifying round for the Champions League has been fairly routine for Celtic.
Qarabag and Elfsborg were beaten on 1-0 aggregates but leading upto those games there were no real worries or concerns, if the team was fit and ready they should be good enough.
Today’s opponents Astana are a different matter, draws with Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Galatasaray in last season’s Champions League group phase speak for themselves.
The added complication of a totally reshaped defence doesn’t auger well while the first season European records of previous Celtic managers is grim.
For Brendan Rodgers and Celtic there is so much at stake today. The new manager wants to make his mark while the club badly needs a return to the bright lights and revenue streams that only the Champions League can offer.
CLICK ON the gallery at the top of this article for the five things Celtic must achieve against Astana
With a newly cast defence a clean sheet this afternoon would be incredibly welcome.
Neil Lennon managed it against Elfsborg and Ronny Deila away to Qarabag but on both occasions the defence was fairly settled.
Craig Gordon has put in some great European performances and needs to apply real leadership letting every defender know where he is and what he expects of them.
The early stages will require real discipline as Celtic set out their stall, giving away a cheap or early goal would be disastrous. Since Erik Sviachenko got injured in training on Friday Rodgers will have been thinking over his team selection, getting the defence right is essential.
In the big book of European Football guidelines after keeping a clean sheet scoring away from home is the next requirement.
When Celtic returned to the Champions League group phase in 2012 it was on the back of a brilliantly fought for 2-0 win away to Helsingborg- a repeat today would be exceptional!
Despite having generations of quality strikers to call on away goals have never come easily for Celtic sides in Europe.
When Malmo scored their second goal at Celtic Park last season it felt like a death in the family had been announced.
Returning the favour on Qarabag today would go a long long way towards reaching the next phase- the onus is now on Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele to deliver.
Play with a plan.
It sounds simple but as we watched the horrors of Legia Warsaw, Maribor and Malmo unfolding it was difficult to see exactly what the plan was.
Before facing Inter Milan in 2015 Ronny Deila dismissed the idea of changing tactics to face the Italian’s, it was that type of thinking that made Celtic easy for others to pick off.
A bit of variation in the way that the team plays, something to keep Astana on their toes would be very welcome.
Giving the players some options within a sound framework will add variety to the game plan and hopefully bring rewards..
Scott Brown can lead by example by delivering a captain’s role
and ensuring that his team-mates remain disciplined at all times.
Away to Lincoln Red Imps Efe Ambrose picked up a yellow card after ten minutes- a massive issue for a defender to deal with.
Barring disaster nothing will be decided today, keeping the tie open and having a full compliment of players for the second leg is essential. Italian referees can be fussy, studying the stats of Paolo Mazzoleni will reveal his strengths and weaknesses- keeping eleven players on the park and available for the return tie is essential.
HURT THEM-
It sounds simple but after two back-to-back campaigns in the Champions League Celtic need to take Astana down a peg or three.
With money to spend and a growing football pedigree Astana are rightly proud of climbing the rankings. Lisbon may have been 49 years ago but Celtic will always be a decent sized European scalp for a recently established footballing nation.
Playing with punch and purpose will provide a reminder to Astana of Celtic’s qualities, offering respect is fine but showing some self confidence will show today’s hosts that there’s more to Celtic than their illustrious history.