DAVIDS WAITS FOR CELTIC

CELTIC kick-off their Champions League campaign with a tough trip to the Stadio Delle Alpi to face a Juventus team buzzing with confidence following an exciting start to the season and boosted further by the return from suspension of Edgar Davids.

Davids has not figured in a competitive match for the Bianconeri since he was found to have failed a doping test towards the end of last season.

But the influential Dutchman has played regularly in friendlies and will go straight back into a team that will be without suspended summer signing Pavel Nedved and the injured Croatian Igor Tudor.

Gianluca Zambrotta is another absentee for Juventus. The Italian international hobbled out of training on Monday afternoon and his place is expected to go to Paolo Montero.

The Uruguayan returns after missing Saturdays 3-2 win over Chievo as Juventus revert to a three-man defence with Zenoni shuffling forward into right midfield.

Despite the injuries Marcello Lippi will launch the full might of his attacking options on Celtic.

Marcelo Salas, David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero all starting together for the first time in a three-man attack.

Celtic have also been boosted with the news that Alan Thompson will be available despite his Intertoto Cup dismissal during his Aston Villa days.

Thompson elaborated on the situation, saying: "I was sent off in the first leg with Celta Vigo over there and I think the ref was suspended a few weeks later - it wasn't the best performance in the world.

"He started booking people for stupid challenges at first and then there was a few naughty challenges and straight red cards.

"I think he stopped the game and all the players went off the pitch, and then he told us to come back because there was a couple of minutes left, but unfortunately that's when I got a red mist

I thought it was three matches at first, but the gaffer pulled me in a couple of weeks ago and said it was two.

"I was delighted because I thought I would miss the game last Wednesday and it could have even been this one."

Probable sides:
Juventus: Buffon; Iuliano, Montero, Thuram; Pessotto, Davids, Tacchinardi, Zenoni; Del Piero, Trezeguet, Salas

Celtic: Douglas; Valgaeren, Mjallby, Balde; Thomson, Petrov, Lambert, Lennon, Agathe; Sutton, Larsson

Juventus 2/5 Draw 11/4 Celtic 6/1
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