Celtic head to Austria to play Salzburg four years after their last encounter which seen the bhoys draw 2-2 under Ronny Deila.
Celtic didn’t beat Salzburg in two attempts back then with the Austrian side beating Celtic 3-1 at Parkhead.
This time it’s Brendan Rodgers men who will take the trip with the Irishman’s side still struggling to find their rhythm.
Celtic and Salzburg both sit on three points in the group after matchday one.
For Celtic, it’s about going to Austria and making sure they put an honest shift in against a very impressive Salzburg side.
The team currently sit seven points ahead at the top of the Austrian League and are going for six-in-a-row.
Their European exploits are there for all to see. Last season Salzburg enjoyed the most successful of their seven seasons in the UEFA Europa League proper, winning their group then eliminating Real Sociedad, Dortmund and Lazio before losing after extra time in the semi-final to Marseille.
The Austrians are also on a 13-match home unbeaten run in European competition with the club coming away with nine wins in that time.
Make no mistake about it – Celtic are the underdogs going into Thursday night.
If the bhoys were to come away with a positive result it will have been a very good outing for Rodgers’ men.
Celtic warmed up for Thursday’s match with a win over Aberdeen while Salzburg put four past Wolfsberg on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers spoke this week of becoming more pragmatic in his approach in Europe to ensure Celtic aren’t carved open so easily by the opposition – we hope he sticks to his word!
The Irishman likes to play flowing football but understands the need to be more cautious, especially away from home.
Our biggest test this season is in Scotland and the League is what we want most of all and that is where we need to be at our strongest,the European games will take care of them self we want to go away from home and get the best we can and at home try and get wins,but it is not the must win games the European games its for us to enjoy and if we win lose or draw it makes no difference, its the games we play in Scotland that counts…bring it on lets do this Celtic…