The Champions League is almost upon the Celtic supporters and with it brings excitement and the glitz and glamour of Europe’s elite rocking up to Celtic Park.
The Celtic fans now have Slovan Bratislava to welcome to Paradise this week after watching their team dismantle the domestic competition in the first five league games of the season.
The 2-0 win over Hearts saw Celtic equal a 118-year clean sheet record after their fifth league shutout of the season which will undoubtedly have Brendan Rodgers and his team looking forward to Wednesday night with confidence.
Celtic now have the opportunity to open up their Champions League campaign with a home win to help improve their recent record in the competition that hasn’t been great of late.
And after the defeat of Hearts, 67 Hail Hail believes Rodgers has two big selection calls to make to try and get that victory over the line.
Paulo Bernardo or Arne Engels
This is a tough choice for Rodgers to make because, in fairness, neither player has done anything to warrant being benched for the big Champions League opener.
Paulo Bernardo has been excellent since his permanent move to Celtic and has stepped into the void left by Matt O’Riley well.
Against Rangers, Bernardo impressed Brendan Rodgers but the Celtic boss preferred Arne Engels against Hearts and the Belgian stepped up with some fine attacking play and a superbly taken penalty.
With the Celtic fans expecting a win against Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park on Wednesday, Rodgers faces a tough choice between both players on who he believes will give his side the best chance of doing that.
Adam Idah for Kyogo Furuhashi
Adam Idah returned to Celtic permanently this summer and was unlucky not to find himself on the scoresheet against Hearts.
After having his late strike ruled offside, the Republic of Ireland international striker looked sharp and more like the player from last season in his short cameo at Celtic Park.
Compare that to Kyogo Furuhashi who looked a little off the pace, the Japanese striker unusually spurned two golden chances in the game to put the match out of Hearts’ reach.
Kyogo has only scored one goal out of five so far this season after scoring against Rangers so Rodgers may well be of a mind to allow Idah to start against the Slovakians to freshen up his forward line.
Whoever the Celtic boss chooses to start the fans will be delighted with one thing. Rodgers has strength in depth to pick from and whoever gets the nod, the Celtic supporters know that there will still be enough quality on the pitch to secure that elusive opening-day Champions League win.
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