GREECE is the word for Celtic tonight and fans Hopelessly Devoted to Brendan Rodgers will be praying for a rescue job.
The Celtic manager is under pressure for the first time after lifting the double treble and all isn't right off the pitch.
On it the champions suffered defeat at Hearts on Saturday after being held 1-1 by AEK Athens.
Now they head to Greece knowing they have to score and not lose. A 1-1 means extra time but 2-2 puts them through on away goals.
Before the first leg I said Celtic needed to win at home and I stand by that. Rodgers' record in Champions League away games suggest AEK will win and the Dedryck Boyata situation hasn't helped.
With “injured” Boyata staying at home, Kristoffer Ajer banned and Marvin Compper crocked it's difficult to see how the Hoops will keep a clean sheet with young Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic forming a centre-half pairing.
Although 0-0 would put the Greeks through I'm surprised to see them as big as 8-5 (from 9-5) at bet365 with the draw paying 21-10 at McBookie. Celtic were slight favourites on the night but have drifted to 85-40 with Marathonbet
Celtic are evens at Paddy Power to qualify with AEK looking decent value at 4-5 at bet365.
The Greeks are tough to break down and Rodgers will have to come up with something special to take his team through to a meeting against Vidi or Malmo. After a 1-1 draw away the Hungarians are slight underdogs to qualify at evens with bet365.
Odsonne Edouard has gone a bit quiet after an electric start to the season and will need to be at his best but worringly sat out Monday's training session in Athens and has been ruled out of the game.
Moussa Dembele is fit again but starts on the bench so while Leigh Griffiths looked rusty against Hearts he's the man Rodgers is relying on for goals. He is an enhanced 11-4 with McBookie to score (max stake £20) but Celtic may to need rely on Callum McGregor or James Forrest for a precious away counter.
It's all stacked against Rodgers and while I'd love to see Celtic qualify for the sake of Scottish football it would be one if his best results if he pulled it off.
Just to score Celtic are 2-5 with Coral and to net two or more 41-10 at Marathonbet and they might need two.
AEK are 10-3 with bet365 to win to nil and they'll do their best to achieve it.
In other games Dynamo Kiev are 19-20 at McBookie to beat Slavia Prague at home after a 1-1 draw.
BATE won 1-0 away to Qarabag and the return could go under 2.5 goals again at 1-2 generally.
The best tie last week was PAOK against Spartak Moscow with the Greeks fighting back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and all the goals came before half-time. Both to score should land at 19-20 with Unibet.
Benfica edged out Fenerbahce 1-0 in Lisbon and can grab an away goal that should see them through. Take both to score at 4-5 with boylesports.
Dinamo Zagreb were impressive 2-0 winners away to Astana and are evens with William Hill to notch another win at home.
Vidi and Malmo are tied 1-1 from the first leg in Sweden and the visitors will have to throw to caution to the wind. I can see both scoring again at 42-41 with Unibet.
Red Bull Salzburg are all but through after winning 3-0 against Shkendija and check out the separate preview for Spartak Trnava v Red Star Belgrade.
Recommended Bets
- AEK to qualify (7pm)
- Dynamo Kiev (5.30pm)
- PAOK v Spartak Moscow btts (7pm)
- Dinamo Zagreb (7pm)
- Vidi v Malmo btts (7pm)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
