Celtic will need to pull off one of the best results in their recent history tomorrow if they are to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League, where some of the continent’s biggest names lie in wait.
Neil Lennon’s side have to win away to Serie A high-fliers Udinese to qualify as runners-up in Group I by virtue of a superior head-to-head record against the Italian club.
Doing that would open up the prospect of a last 32 clash with Champions League dropouts such as Manchester United, Manchester City or Valencia.
But Udinese are one of Europe’s in-form teams just now, and Celtic’s record away from home in continental competition will give Hoops fans little cause for optimism.
Their last win on the road in Europe came at Dinamo Moscow in the Champions League third qualifying round in July 2009, while before that they had not won on their travels since the 2003-2004 season, and there are plenty of memories of past disappointments on Italian soil.
However, manager Neil Lennon believes that a change in luck for his side is long overdue.
“Our record away over the years hasn’t been good and I’m told Scottish teams have only had one victory in Italy in 32 attempts,” he admitted.
“Udinese have a good mentality and boast quality players,” Lennon added of Francesco Guidolin’s team, who drew 1-1 in Glasgow in September and still have the incentive of beating already-qualified Atletico Madrid to first place if they win and the Spaniards lose at home to Rennes.
Of England’s four representatives in the group stages, Stoke City are the only side already through. They can seal first place in Group E by taking a point away to Besiktas today.
Elsewhere, Fulham come into today’s final round of games in second place in Group K – a win for Martin Jol’s men at home to Odense will guarantee them more European football in the New Year, while any slip up could let in Wisla Krakow, who are a point behind.
While qualification is in the Cottagers’ hands, Championship club Birmingham City can only advance if they beat Maribor at St Andrews and Belgium’s FC Brugge lose at home to Braga.
Tottenham Hotspur are also on the brink of being knocked out in Group A.
The Spurs will be out of the competition unless they beat pointless Shamrock Rovers and Rubin Kazan lose away to PAOK Salonika.
There are already 15 teams certain of featuring in Friday’s draw for the next two rounds of the competition along with the eight clubs falling from the Champions League.
Fixtures and standings
Playing today
Group D
19.00: Zurich vs Vaslui; Lazio vs Sporting Lisbon.
Standings: Sporting Lisbon 12; Vaslui, Lazio 6; Zurich 2.
Group E
19.00: Dynamo Kiev vs Maccabi Tel Aviv; Besiktas vs Stoke City.
Standings: Stoke 11 City; Besiktas 9; D. Kiev 6; Maccabi 1.
Group F
19.00: Slovan Bratislava vs Red Bull Salzburg; Paris SG vs Athletic Bilbao.
Standings: A. Bilbao 13; Salzburg, Paris SG 7; S. Bratislava 1.
Group J
21.05: Maccabi Haifa vs Schalke; Steaua Bucharest vs AEK Larnaca.
Standings: Schalke 11; M. Haifa 6; S. Bucharest, AEK Larnaca 5.
Group K
21.05: Wisla Krakow vs Twente Enschede; Fulham vs OB Odense.
Standings: Twente 13; Fulham 7; W. Krakow 6; Odense 3.
Group L
21.05: Sturm Graz vs AEK Athens; Anderlecht vs Lokomotiv Moscow.
Standings: Anderlecht 15; L. Mos-cow 12; S. Graz 3; AEK Athens 0.
Tomorrow
Group A
19.00: PAOK Salonika vs Rubin Kazan; Shamrock vs Tottenham.
Standings: PAOK 11; R. Kazan 10; Tottenham 7; Shamrock 0.
Group B
19.00: Hannover vs Vorskla Poltava; FC Copenhagen vs Standard Liege.
Standings: S. Liege 11; Hanover 8; Copenhagen 5; V. Poltava 2.
Group C
19.00: Hapoel Tel-Aviv vs Legia Warsaw; PSV Eindhoven vs Rapid Bucharest.
Standings: PSV 13; Legia Warsaw 9; Hapoel 4; R. Bucharest 3.
Group G
21.05: AZ Alkmaar vs Metalist Kharkiv; Austria Wien vs Malmo.
Standings: M. Kharkiv 13; Alkmaar 7; A. Vienna 5; Malmo 1.
Group H
21.05: Club Brugge vs Braga; Birmingham City vs Maribor.
Standings: Brugge, S. Braga 10; Birmingham 7; Maribor 1.
Group I
21.05: Udinese vs Celtic; Atletico Madrid vs Rennes.
Standings: A. Madrid 10; Udinese 8; Celtic 5; Rennes 3.
Note: Top two qualify for last 32 where they will be joined by eight teams who finished third in Cham-pions League group stages.