Astana vs Celtic. UEFA Champions League Qualifying Play-Offs Round.
Astana ArenaAttendance19,075.
4-8
Tuesday 22 August 2017 15:31, UK
Boss Brendan Rodgers claims complacency is not an issue as Celtic prepare to defend their healthy 5-0 Champions League play-off lead in Astana.
The Hoops took a huge step towards guaranteeing their place in the group stages for the second successive season under the Northern Irish boss following a first-leg thrashing of the Kazakhstan club at Parkhead last week.
Rodgers will assess Nir Bitton, who has had a protective boot over his foot injury over the last few days - but he is more certain about his side's ability to stay focused in the Astana Arena on Tuesday.
"In every single game we play we are always relaxed but focused and there is no change in this game," he said. "We are never complacent, we never take anything for granted and that is a daily part of our life.
"When you play for a huge club like Celtic every day you have to prove yourself and in every game, so there is no question of being too complacent.
"My players will be relaxed but always with a focus. We worked very well in the first leg but we need to complete the job tomorrow. The first leg is gone, it's in the past.
"This is a game that you just can't just discard. We had a great result in the first game but we had to work very hard and it will be equally that tomorrow."
Since a 7-0 defeat against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in September 2016, the Scottish treble-winners have not lost on their European travels against Borussia Monchengladbach, Manchester City, Linfield and Rosenborg.
Moreover, the Scottish champions have not conceded in five European ties this season and Rodgers is keen to keep those records intact.
The former Swansea and Liverpool boss said: "We have a good record since the Barcelona game away from home in Europe so we are looking to add to that.
"We had a good performance against Monchengladbach, drew and should have won the game. Manchester City we had a good result and drew and against Rosenborg we won 1-0 so we are growing and developing at this level and we hope we can continue to do that tomorrow.
"So we think of it as 0-0. We are strong in every game we play and we always pick a team to get the best result we can. Thus far we haven't conceded a goal in the qualification phase...in our competitive games we have conceded one goal so far. It is a good effort by the players and it epitomises the organisation in the team.
"A lot of focus is on the creativity and style with which the team plays but we have a philosophy in terms of our defensive organisation which is also equal to our attacking idea. We take great pride in how we defend, how we press, the togetherness and cohesion in the team because it is all related.
"So all that means we concede few opportunities and then we can defend with the ball as well, our possession is at a higher level, we can defend better with the ball, have longer periods with the ball and in the opponents' half - and if all that equates to a clean sheet then I would be very, very happy."
FC Astana are unbeaten in 14 European home games (inc. qualifiers), with the Kazakhstan side winning half of those matches (D7).
Celtic are unbeaten in their last six games in European competition (inc. qualifiers), winning four and drawing two.
The Bhoys have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two away games in European competition (inc. qualifiers), they last recorded three in a row back in August 2003 (a run of four).
Celtic have lost just once in their last 10 Champions League qualifiers, winning seven (D1).
Scott Sinclair has been directly involved in five of Celtic's 12 goals in CL qualifiers this season (four goals, one assist), three more than any other player at the club.
It was a wonderful result for Celtic, although it was never a 5-0 game and it will be a lot tougher making the long trip to Kazakhstan.
Astana are an absolute cracking price to win this second leg. Celtic set off on Sunday so their preparation time is enough but such a long trip takes it out of you.
Their hosts will be angry and are not actually a bad side, as we saw last season when Celtic edged the tie 3-2. I'll obviously hope Celtic get a result with it worth £30-40m, but I think Astana will really be out to prove a point after being embarrassed in the first leg.
I'm going for a first defeat in a while for Celtic, which Brendan Rodgers will obviously be disappointed with given his record, but I think it will be a tough to motivate the players for this game.
I fancy Junior Kabananga, who has pace and power, to open the scoring in a home win. It might be the right reality check they need ahead of what will be far tougher tests in the group stages.
Charlie predicts: 2-0 and Kabananga to score first - 45/1 with Sky Bet
