Celtic have won all three of their games so far this season. But now, the focus will turn towards the one coming up, which could turn out to be the most important of their campaign. The Hoops are set to welcome Kairat Almaty to Parkhead for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier play-off round tie.
Celtic have struggled to get past the Champions League qualifying rounds in the past. One can only hope that things are different this time around.
This Celtic team does have a decent bit of experience of playing at the Champions League level. Last season, they defeated Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in the competition. Kairat Almaty needed penalties to get past them in the previous round.
Of course, we know that football maths does not work like that. But that should give the Hoops some confidence going into the tie. And one has to consider them favourites at this point in time, although anything is possible in games like these.
Celtic handed major boost for Champions League play-off vs Kairat Almaty
Kairat Almaty will enter the game against Celtic on the end of a bad result though. They lost this weekend in the Kazakh league.
And it was a game that looked to be in their hands. Edmilson had scored an early brace to give them a 2-0 lead but they went on to concede three times and lost the game 3-2. Of course, that will dent their confidence a bit heading into the game against Celtic away at Parkhead.
Celtic need to make sure that they win at Parkhead against Kairat. Nothing else will be good enough. They need to get the win and take a lead into the second leg in Kazakhstan. That has to be the aim for Brendan Rodgers' side in midweek.