CELTIC return from their unwanted summer Boliday with a Champions League qualifier against KR Reykjavik and can't afford any slip-ups in this one-off tie.
The Hoops were hoping to head into their first European engagement on the back of four games in the Premiership but that plan was ruined by full-back Boli Bolingoli.
His jaunt to Spain, and subsequent failure to go into Covid-19 quarantine, saw Celtic's matches with St Mirren and Aberdeen bite the dust and left the whole Scottish game perilously close to another shutdown.
Coming off the back of a dismal 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock, it cast a dark cloud over Parkhead as it gave Rangers the chance to move 11 points clear before Neil Lennon's men were back in domestic action.
But Gers then slipped up at Livingston on Sunday, giving the green half of Glasgow a lift before a European tie that should provide another shot in the arm.
Celtic beat the Icelandic champions 5-0 on aggregate in the qualifiers back in 2014 (below) and should get back among the goals when they face the minnows again.
How the bookies view it
It's no surprise to see KR Reykjavik as rank outsiders and the Icelandic champions are as big as 30/1 with Paddy Power for a win inside 90 minutes and 14/1 to qualify.
Celtic's best price is 1/9 with William Hill to win inside 90 minutes and they are 1/25 with Bet365 to qualify. The draw after 90 minutes is 9/1 at Paddy Power.
The Hoops have conceded in both competitive games this term but I'm expecting Reykjavik to park the bus so backing a home win to nil is probably the best option at 4/6 with Paddy Power.
Form guide
Both teams head into this game lacking some match practice. That 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock followed up a 5-1 home win over Hamilton for Celtic but they are the only two competitive games the Hoops have played since lockdown.
KR Reykjavik lost 2-1 against FH in the Icelandic league on Friday, their first bit of action for two weeks. But they were on an eight-game unbeaten run before that in domestic competition, winning six of those matches.
Players to watch
Odsonne Edouard scored a hat-trick in Celtic's last game at Parkhead but is a measly 1/2 to find the target here with William Hill. The odds are better on him netting two or more at 21/10 with the same firm while another treble is priced 17/2.
There's better value in winger James Forrest, even though he has been quiet in the first two games. The Hoops stalwart rarely misses a game under Lennon and is 6/4 with William Hill for anytime scorer.
All the Reykjavik players are available at great prices in the anytime scorer market. Skipper Oskar Orn Hauksson is the man who makes them tick and he's 24/5 with William Hill for a goal.
Anything else catch the eye?
Backing Celtic to get among the goals helped my Tasty Treble come up on the opening weekend of the Premiership season. The Hoops are 11/5 with McBookie to score four or more here but I'm tempted by the boosted 7/1 Paddy Power offer on a 3-0 victory.
Lennon's side will try to come flying out the traps so I like the look of the 21/10 William Hill offer on Celtic being ahead after 15 minutes.
This UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and KR Reykjavik will be played on Aug 18, 2020 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Celtic vs KR Reykjavik prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
