What Dedryck Boyata has told his Club Brugge teammates about Celtic fans on Champions League nights

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With domestic action on the back burner for the moment, the Champions League returns for Celtic fans on Wednesday with the visit of Club Brugges.

The Belgians sit just one point behind Celtic in the league phase and they have proven already that they will be no pushovers after Brugge beat Aston Villa 1-0 at the beginning of this month.

However, after Celtic beat RB Leipzig 3-1 at Parkhead, Brendan Rodgers’ team have proven that they will be a tough nut to crack themselves, especially after the Bhoys’ 0-0 draw with Atalanta in Bergamo.

With the game at Celtic Park, the Hoops support have the chance to create that magical atmosphere once again and Dedryck Boyata has shared what he’s told his Club Brugge teammates about it.

Dedryck Boyata can’t explain to Club Brugge the Celtic Park Champions League atmosphere

Boyata played for Celtic in the Champions League on five occasions under Brendan Rodgers. Tow of those times were at Celtic Park in defeats against Bayern Munich and Anderlecht but the Belgian has sent his teammates a warning of what to expect on Wednesday night.

Boyata told MailSport [print edition page 54], “It’s going to be a tough game for Brugge on Wednesday.

“It will be interesting for them to go there because the clubs have never met before. It will be new for a lot of players here – especially the first 10 minutes at Celtic Park.

“It’s going to be very intimidating. But it’s two great teams and Celtic have been doing well in the Champions League.

“They beat Leipzig in the last game which was a great result. I can tell my Brugge team-mates what it’s like at Celtic but until you’ve been there and experienced it – it’s difficult to explain.

“Even as a Celtic player, that stadium still gets to you every time. That’s what I felt when I was there.

“Even though you’ve experienced it before, those first 10 minutes can be very intimidating. Knowing you’re a Celtic player, at least it’s FOR you.

“But to be playing against it? I’ve never had that so I can only imagine what it’s like. So I can tell them. But so many players over the years have gone there and spoken about the atmosphere.”

Celtic’s record against Belgian clubs in Champions League and Europa League

Celtic have played Belgian opposition in Europe since 1980 on eight different occasions.

The Hoops have faced Anderlecht in the Champions League four times, Gent in the now-defunct Cup Winners Cup twice and Germinal Ekeren (now called Germinal Beerschot) in the UEFA Cup which is now known as the Europa League.

So whilst Celtic has home advantage, Anderlecht have proven before that a Belgian team winning at Celtic Park is not beyond them after the 1-0 defeat Rodgers experienced back in 2017.

A win would almost guarantee both clubs a play-off place so Wednesday night’s fixture is set up to be a cracker.