Well tonight’s clash is almost upon us and we’re all hoping and praying we can pull off an almighty shock. A win (though faintly ludicrous as it sounds) would almost certainly eclipse the win we had in Rome some four years ago under Neil Lennon, when Olivier Ntcham found the winner late into the match with a sumptuous dink over the onrushing Lazio ‘keeper to make it a night to remember for Celtic supporters everywhere.

Incidentally, you should check out the brilliant photographs on The Celtic Star today featuring the Celtic supporters enjoying their night in Rome on this day in 2019.

READ THIS…Celtic support in Rome, photo special – ‘The day that we won away’

This evening, we face a team that hasn’t lost in the last fifteen home games. That’s an inordinate amount of victories at that level and goes to show the class of Diego Simeone and his backroom staff at the Wanda Metropolitano. We’re really up against it tonight in Spain, but there are glimmers of hope for the Hoops and we can start by taking heart from our last encounter with the Argentine’s side in Glasgow.

This team can be gotten at; that much was obvious when we carved them open through the fast, intricate, sharp play between Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi. It was an exact replica of the goal we scored against the Italians the game before at Celtic Park – neither defence had any answer for it too. So it proved that we’re dangerous at this level if these sorts of teams don’t bring their A-game.

It’s really been slight details that have hampered us on this latest European adventure. The old adage “fine margins” has really slapped us across the face several times, much to the disgust and disdain of the faithful.

We can only but try and rectify these issues with each passing game at UEFA Champions League group stage level and this evening is another opportunity to show we have learnt and grown already in the few matches that we’ve had in 2023/24.

No more rash challenges which gives referees a golden opportunity to penalise the team. No more lapses in concentration which allows the opposition time and space to play their game. No more letting the player get goal side of our defence and forcing us to make challenges in the penalty area, which allows VAR to intervene.

No more missing ‘gimme’ goalscoring opportunities which lets them off the hook. No more conceding early and making it an agonisingingly long night or losing goals at crucial times for that matter. No more mismanagement of the game and giving the ball away cheaply and unnecessarily.

Make life difficult for them tonight, Celtic. Show them all that we have learned and grown from our previous experiences and most of all, gives us something to hold onto and shout for this year in Europe!

Paul Gillespie