Liam Scales wants to see Celtic repeat a memorable away day from last season on Thursday night, when they face Benfica away from home.
The Bhoys face a huge challenge in Lisbon having struggled against any sort of decent side this season. Benfica went all of last season unbeaten in the league and even beat Real Madrid, while they have already beaten AC Milan during this Europa League campaign.
Benfica are the sort of side that could easily be in the Champions League and quite comfortably progress in that competition, so they are about as tough an opponent as one could face in the Europa League.
Celtic have to find a way to compete with that, but they have pulled off big away wins before, including against Feyenoord last season, and defender Scales wants a repeat of that game.
“It doesn’t get much more difficult in the Europa League than this next one,” the defender told
STV.
“Benfica away is a tough, tough game. It has been disappointing so far in Europe this season, so we need to really try and do better.
“But we went to Feyenoord last season and showed what we can do, so we can try and replicate how we played in that game.
“When it comes to European fixtures, that is a reference for us. That was really, really good that night, so that’s what we will be hoping to do.”
Benfica are a better opponent than Feyenoord, it must be said, but that kind of performance would give Celtic a chance of competing, which is what they are hoping for on Thursday night.
Few could criticise Celtic for not coming away from Lisbon with a point or three on Thursday night, but we do expect them to at least compete to show those dismal performances against decent teams from the first couple of months of the season have been learned from.
Scales could well start the game on Thursday night, with Cameron Carter-Vickers currently struggling with an injury. Martin O'Neill says the centre-back will be touch and go for the game, and he looks more likely than not to miss out.
Scales put in a good performance against Motherwell over the weekend, and that display followed a couple of good performances for his nation, Ireland, during the international break.
The defender looks much better in his natural centre-back position having regularly been asked to deputise for Kieran Tierney on the left.
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