Guide to Champions League 2007/08! Celtic

CELTIC
Scottish champions
Champions League pedigree: European Champions 1967

THE LOW DOWN:
Involved in the most dramatic of third round qualifying ties as they saw off Spartak Moscow on penalties after a couple of memorable matches, Gordon Strachan's men now have the challenge of emulating their Champions League achievements of last season.

A fortunate victory over mighty Manchester United handed them an unlikely passport to the knock-out stages last time and they impressed in losing narrowly to eventual champions AC Milan. No team will relish a trip to a Parkhead home Celtic supporters call 'Paradise', but a team boasting little more than hard working commitment can only take you so far.

TECHNICAL AREA:
Strachan took time to win over his doubters at Celtic after replacing the celebrated Martin O'Neill in the summer of 2005, but back-to-back Scottish titles have won him plenty of admirers. His relative success in the Champions League last season did his stock no harm either.

Generally a 4-4-2 man, he has been known to revert to 4-5-1 for away games in Europe, but such a negative tactic has rarely proved successful. With that in mind, he may feel the best form of defence is attack and start with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and summer capture Scott McDonald up top against the cream of the Champions League sides.

WOW FACTOR:
Gifted Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura was the star turn for Celtic throughout last season, with his late free-kick that beat Manchester United securing him a place in Parkhead folklore forever more. Many felt this fragile looking performer would struggle in the tough world of Scottish football, but his class has won out.

The other star man in the Celtic line-up is their remarkable army of fans who turn home games into some kind of state occasion. The cauldron of passion that is Parkhead on European nights has regularly carried 'The Bhoys' to unlikely victories in recent years, with the display of flags and scarves complemented by communal signing that would rival any pop concert.

THE BIG BUY:
Attracting top talent to Scotland is always a major challenge, so Strachan did well to lure former AC Milan midfielder Massimo Donati to Glasgow during the summer. Handed the No.18 shirt previously owned by departed Celtic skipper Neil Lennon, much is expected of a star who has lost his way somewhat in recent years.

The arrival of Scott Brown from Hibernian was an interesting move because at a reported £4.4m, Strachan proved he was prepared to use much of his summer transfer kitty on a 22-year-old who had never performed at Champions League level before. Rumours of interest from Premier League clubs in England inflated his fee, but time will tell if he is good enough to shine in this elite competition.

THE TENDER SPOT:
Celtic's form away from home in the Champions League has been truly appalling and while they have come close to success from time to time, they always tend to come up short in the end. Lacking the self-belief to attack teams as they do on home soil, they have proved time again to be unable to keep a clean sheet when the pressure is applied. They have yet to win a game on their travels in the Champions League group stages.

Their other major problem is an inability to get themselves match-sharp for games against the best in Europe when they are squaring up to modest competition at home every week. Beating the likes of Dunfermline and Motherwell with ease is not a real warm-up prior to facing the likes of AC Milan at the San Siro.

HOT GOSSIP:
Reports linking Nakamura with moves to the English Premier League or back to Italy came to nothing during the summer, but if he shines again in the Champions League group stages, tempting offers are bound to be thrust onto the table in January.

IDEAL LINE-UP:
Boruc, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Wilson, Brown, Donati, McGeady, Nakamura, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink

THE VERDICT:
Their failings on the road will cost them dear again, so they would be happy to claim a UEFA Cup spot for the New Year.