Fixture: Celtic v Valencia.

Competition: Europa League, last 32, first leg.

Venue: Celtic Park.

Kick-off time: 8pm.

How are Celtic looking?

Pretty good. The absence of Kieran Tierney is obviously not ideal for the home team. The Scotland left back has been one of Brendan Rodgers’ standout performers, in continental competition especially, in the past two-and-a-half seasons. He has returned to training at Lennoxtown this week. But, having not featured since the final Europa League group game against Salzburg back in December, his manager is unwilling to bring him back this evening.

Fortunately for Rodgers, Emilio Izaguirre has recovered from the injury he suffered against Hibernian last week and is available for selection. But this will be the 32-year-old’s first European appearance for Celtic since he played in a qualifier against Suduva way back in August. It will be a considerable test for him. He has, though, extensive experience at this level from his first spell in Scotland.

Jeremy Toljan, the German defender who is on loan from Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season, has impressed and should get the nod at right back ahead of Mikael Lustig.

Elsewhere, Oliver Burke and Jozo Simunovic have recovered from injury and illness respectively. Odsonne Edouard, too, is fine. Long-term absentees Filip Benkovic, Eboue Kouassi, Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic won't feature.

The double treble winners are certainly enjoying a rich vein of form. They have won all seven of their games since play restarted after the winter break last month. During that spell, they have scored 21 goals and conceded none. Valencia, of course, will be something of a step up on Airdrie.

What shape are Valencia in?

Rodgers pointed out that the visitors this evening have only lost four games in La Liga this season at his pre-match media conference at Parkhead last night. But Marcelino’s men have drawn a record 13 matches in the 2018/19 campaign and are a lowly eighth place in the table some 20 points behind leaders Barcelona.

Their form in Europe this season has also been up and down. They drew 0-0 with Manchester United at Old Trafford and beat Jose Mourinho’s side 2-1 at the Mestalla in their Champions League group. But defeating Juventus, even after Cristiano Ronaldo had been sent off, proved beyond them at home. Still, a victory over Young Boys of Switzerland in Spain ensured they finished third in their section and dropped into the knockout rounds of the Europa League.

Valencia are unbeaten in their last four domestic fixtures and drew 2-2 with Barcelona, who had to come from behind to salvage a point, at the Nou Camp at the start of the month.

However, Marcelino also has injury concerns. He will be without Geoffrey Kondogbia, Rodrigo and Santa Mina while Francis Coquelin and Daniel Parejo are also doubts. Meanwhile, Goncalo Guedes, their record signing, is unlikely to start having just returned from injury. Elsewhere, Facundo Roncaglia, the Argentinian who is on loan from Celta Vigo, is suspended having been red carded against Manchester United in the semi-final of this competition two years ago.

A defensive side who like to soak up pressure and hit their rivals on the counter attack, they will hard to break down and dangerous going forward.

Valencia have, like Celtic, a proud European record. They have been in seven major finals in their 100 year history, winning five of them. They reached the Champions League final in 2000 and 2001, but lost on both occasions.

So can Celtic beat Valencia?

Of course. Far bigger and better teams have been overcome at Parkhead in recent seasons. If Scott Brown and all of his team mates turn up and perform to their very best, as they did against Bundesliga high flyers RB Leipzig in the group stages last year, then they have a definite chance.

With a full-house roaring them on – and big European nights at Celtic Park are among the great experiences in the modern game – they will certainly be confident of giving their adversaries a difficult evening and gaining an advantage to take into the second leg.

But it will be difficult for them. The Los Che bench in their La Liga game against Real Sociedad at the weekend cost more, a cool £75 million, than the entire Celtic side that took on St Johnstone on Sunday. Three times as much, in fact. That sums up the size of the challenge facing the Scottish champions.

Guedes, who returned from a lengthy injury layoff when he came on as a substitute in the Sociedad game, set Valencia back a club record €40 million in the summer. Rodgers can only dream of having that sort of money to lavish on a player.

Who are Valencia’s key players?

Parejo will, if fit, be the man Celtic will have to watch. The attacking midfielder has been at Valencia for eight years now and is the man who initiates their forays forward. The Spanish internationalist is also a serious goal threat. He is a dead ball specialist so not conceding free-kicks within shooting range will be important for the hosts. The 29-year-old is a classic No.10. Brown will have to be at his best to nullify the threat he poses

Elsewhere, Gameiro, the French striker, is a handful. He has won the Europa League no fewer than four times, three with Sevilla and one with Atletico Madrid last year, so will not be deterred by the occasion or the atmosphere. A €16 million summer signing, he is a physical and robust forward despite his slight frame and is a clinical finisher at the highest level.

What is Celtic’s record against Spanish opposition like?

Not great. The 1967 European Cup winners have certainly enjoyed some memorable victories over Spanish teams over the years. Who can forget that epic 2-1 triumph over Barcelona in the Champions League back in 2012? But they have lost more than they have won. Valencia, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Villarreal have all proved too good for them over the years. Of the 34 games they have played against Spanish clubs Celtic have won 7, drawn 7 and lost 20.

Celtic triumphed 1-0 after 120 minutes in their last meeting with Valencia, in the second leg of the UEFA Cup third round back in 2001, only to lose 5-4 on penalties. Their win over Celtic Vigo during their run to the final of that competition two years later was their first over Spanish rivals over two legs.

Valencia were the first team that Celtic ever played in Europe. They drew them in the first round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1962 and lost 6-4 on aggregate.

So what’s your score prediction?

Celtic 1, Valencia 1.