Champions League: Celtic v Young Boys. With Celtic knowing one more win in the Champions League will almost certainly be enough to take them into the next phase of the competition, it would appear there could be no better visitors than Swiss side Young Boys. The Berne club have been staggeringly bad this season, domestically as well as in Europe, and though Scots teams know better than to take anything for granted in continental competition, Young Boys will have to seriously up their game to take their first points of the campaign.
They come to Glasgow with the worst defensive record in the Champions League, conceding five to Barcelona and Stuttgart and six at home to Atalanta, having scored only three in their six games. Young Boys have never won an away fixture in their four Champions League campaigns to date, mustering just two draws in 11 games. Add to all that a worst start to a league season this century and it's little wonder they arrive at Celtic Park under new management, though previous boss Patrick Rahman was actually dispensed with back in October when a defeat by Basel followed the battering in Barcelona and his day tenure was brought to a conclusion.
Rodgers eyes 'respect' with Champions League progress. Celtic and Rangers host second-tier sides in Scottish Cup. Visit our Celtic page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views. Step forward Giorgio Contini, who has been enticed from his position as national assistant manager to Murat Yakin to replace interim boss Joel Magnin.
Magnin had actually stemmed the tide somewhat domestically, losing just two of 10 games and though they lie ninth in the incredibly competitive Super League, they are only eight points adrift of leaders Lugano. As an aside, the top six are separated by just two points at the midway point of the season.
An inauspicious draw with bottom club Winterthur at the weekend hardly got Contini's reign off to a blistering start as they try to climb the table in defence of the title they won by 12 points last season, a sixth in seven years and a 17th overall. Contini has revealed he recently spent time watching legendary Real Madrid coach and five-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti at close quarters, learning from his management style.
