Celtic kick off their Champions League campaign on Wednesday at home against Slovan Bratislava, as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to start their latest European adventure in the best possible way.

They face the Slovakian champions, who arrive in Glasgow as underdogs for this match-up. Managed by Vladimir Weiss, whose son – who has the same name – captains the club (who used to play for Rangers on loan back in 2010/11). Celtic come into this game in good form, winning six games out of six in all competitions, conceding just one goal in the process. For Bratislava, their last game ended 2-1 in favour of themselves, though they recently suffered a 5-0 home loss to MSK Zilina in the Slovakian league.

With Celtic Park ready to host another massive night in Europe for Rodgers’ side, who will the manager elect to start for this opening match in the revamped Champions League? The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each have their say…

Ryan McGinlay

This excitement is unbearable - I can already hear the Champions League anthem going through my head – why can’t it be 8 pm on Wednesday night yet?

Of course, patience is a virtue, though the anticipation levels seem to be rising with every passing minute or hour. Despite some good performances and results last season in Europe, Celtic flattered to deceive and were on the end of some unfortunate scorelines – of both the heavy and agonisingly close variety.

Alas, the Slovakian champions are in town, though Rodgers’ side will be installed as favourites for this one. It is a must-win game on Matchday One – quite the scenario in the middle of September. Because of this, Celtic will name the strongest European squad possible against Weiss’ men.

In goals, Kasper Schmeichel will retain his place in between the sticks, whilst the defensive backline will remain unchanged. Because of this, Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston will occupy their respective full-back positions, as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales remain in place in the middle of the defence. Auston Trusty will have to wait for his Celtic debut, though that may well come at the weekend against Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup.

In the midfield, I firmly believe that two of the three areas in Celtic’s engine room are already spoken for – especially after Saturday’s win over Hearts in the Premiership. Callum McGregor will start this game – that’s a given – but so will record-signing Arne Engels, who put in a Man of the Match performance at the weekend on his full debut. Because of this, he will almost certainly start versus Bratislava, but who out of Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo will join them?

For me, it will be the latter, as his work off the ball defensively will prove more beneficial than Hatate’s individual brilliance whilst in possession. That being said, the Japan midfielder will still have a part to play in the final 30 minutes of the tie, especially if Celtic are chasing a goal late on. It is a squad game, after all.

In the forward areas, it will be an unchanged front three, as Kyogo Furuhashi will lead the line once again for Celtic, supported by Daizen Maeda on the left and Nicolas Kuhn on the right. If all three can be on song in front of what will be a raucous Celtic Park, then you would expect one or more of them to find themselves on the scoresheet on Wednesday night.

Kyogo loves a European tie, whilst Maeda will be looking for redemption after last campaign’s escapades in the Champions League. For Kuhn, he could really announce himself as a bona fide Celtic hero if he turns it on in Europe’s premier club competition. 

The stage is set for the forward line to run riot against Bratislava this midweek. Celtic to win by a couple of goals and get their European adventures off to a flying start…

Ryan’s team: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Bernardo, Engels; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda

Tony Haggerty

The waiting is almost over. Celtic is returning to the elite level of club football as Brendan Rodgers is determined to repair the club's battered image and pride in Europe. Cue Zadok's The Priest. Let joy be unconfined down Glasgow's east end. All together now: 'The Champions!"

This competition can do strange things to people. The $64,000 question is can Celtic get off to a winning start against Slovan Bratislava? There is an expectation hanging in the air over G40 for this one.

The Slovak champions may well be in town but Celtic are going into battle in a confident mood having refused to yield in the league so far without so much as conceding a goal.

Can Rodgers's men show that they have learned from the Champions League excursions of the past? There is a heightened sense of anticipation and it is not hyperbole to say that even as early as Matchday One nothing less than three points will be viewed as a disappointment.

Celtic are looking to make it two Champions League victories in a row after disposing of Feyenoord on Matchday Six last season. This is the inaugural game of the Champions League league phase. A new format, new mindset, new Celtic.

Schmeichel will look to bring his impregnable league form onto the European stage. The Dane could well be in for a sterner test against the Slovaks. The shot-stopper will be aided and abetted by an unchanged defensive backline. Johnston at right-back, Taylor on the left with Carter-Vickers partnering Scales in the centre of the pack. Trusty will be left cooling his heels on the bench for this one.

In midfield, Rodgers has the biggest decision of all to make. It looks like it could be bad news for Hatate. Engels will get the nod after his excellent man-of-the-match display against Hearts. He also showed he was cool under pressure from 12 yards which is a boon for Celtic who have had their problems in that department of late. Inspirational skipper McGregor will be alongside Engels which leaves one berth left. That will go to Portuguese under-21 midfielder Bernardo. He can consider himself unfortunate to be rotated for the Jambos clash but the Irishman liked what he produced at this level last season and he will be given the chance to do it all again. It's a night for industry, endeavour, craft and guile and Bernardo possesses all four attributes which gives him the edge over Hatate.

Up front the tried and tested triumvirate of Kuhn on the right, Maeda on the left and Kyogo through the middle will start the contest. They may not necessarily finish it. Kyogo comes alive on the big occasion more often than not despite his paltry return of one goal in all competitions thus far this season. You wouldn't put it past him to have a say in this one. It's time for Maeda to have a breakout performance at this level and it is also the stage for Kuhn to fully announce himself as a bonafide Celtic player by delivering where it matters most on the European stage.

Celtic could get a lot of joy in the forward areas and they will be roared on by 60,000 supporters. It could be one of those special European nights for the men in green and white. Three points is a must. Celtic will get them.

Tony's team: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Bernardo, Engels; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda