Celtic fans have been pelted with flares from Lazio ultras ahead of their Champions League clash in Rome.

Ahead of kick-off, pyrotechnics were thrown into the away section of the ground. 

Smoke bombs and flares could be seen burning in the stands before the referee got the Euro contest underway.

The fixture is a must-win for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic if they want to be playing European football beyond Christmas.

Ahead of the match, Rodgers  warned his Celtic players they must avoid seeing red against Lazio on Tuesday if they are to have a chance of keeping their European campaign alive beyond Christmas.

The Hoops have taken just one point from their four Champions League matches so far and need to win in the Stadio Olimpico and hope Feyenoord do not defeat Atletico Madrid in order to go into their final match against the Dutch side with a chance of progressing to the knockout phase of the Europa League.

Celtic’s cause has not been helped by the fact they have had three players sent off in their two away games – Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm in the 2-0 defeat in Rotterdam and Daizen Maeda in the first half of their 6-0 thrashing in Madrid.

Rodgers is adamant there can be no repeat of such indiscipline in Rome.

“What is important for us is making sure we have 11 men on the field,” said the Hoops boss. “In our two away games we’ve been down to nine men and then 10 men.

“At this level, that’s a big ask. For us, it’s about keeping our players on the field, playing the level of football that we know we can and have shown, and hopefully we get our breaks in the game.

“I think we learned that over the course of the competition, against Lazio and the other teams, that we can really compete when we are 11 vs 11.”