Kairat v Celtic: Champions League place at stake in heat of Kazakhstan

Celtic are one game away from the prestigious League Phase of the Champions League and the multi-million pound boost that participation brings.

To reach that stage, they will need to overcome Kairat Almaty and become the first Scottish side ever to win in Kazakhstan.

The sides are locked at 0-0 going into the return leg following last week’s first game in Glasgow.

It wasn’t a vintage European night at Celtic Park last week, and fans loudly voiced their displeasure with chants of “sack the board” heard throughout the game and after the final whistle.

Brendan Rodgers’ side now face a tie – worth around £16m – sitting on a knife-edge following a gruelling 7,000-mile journey to Almaty in uncomfortably hot conditions.

Team form

Kairat fans during a UEFA Champions League Play-Offs First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park, on August 20. SNS Group

Kairat have an impressive record on their own turf, having yet to concede at home in three rounds this season.

A 3-1 aggregate triumph over NK Olimpija Ljubljana, a spirited 3-2 comeback win against KuPS, and a penalty shootout success after a 1-1 draw with Slovan Bratislava made it five straight wins at Central Stadium across three European campaigns.

Celtic warmed up for Tuesday’s crucial clash with victory over Livingston, as Benjamin Nygren’s second-half double helped a much-changed side to a 3-0 win.

Team news

Right-back Alastair Johnston remains out for around 12 weeks while defender Auston Trusty has also not travelled due to a foot injury.

Forward Adam Idah missed the weekend win over Livingston with a knee injury, but has made the trip.

There is a boost for the visitors in the form of Chelsea-bound 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev missing out through suspension.

Where and when?

The game will kick off at Venue Central Stadium in Almaty on Tuesday at an unusually early time of 5.45pm, which equates to about 9.45pm in Kazakhstan.

This is due to temperatures during the day reaching mid-30s.

TV coverage will be provided by Amazon Prime.

‘No excuse’

Brendan Rodgers has told his players there are “no excuses” as they prepare for the Champions League decider.

“There’s no excuse for us,” he said. “Especially when you see how well Kairat worked last week. They had the same journey going the other way, so that won’t be an excuse for us.

“We all feel fine, we feel great. We’re on our own time zone and we’ll prepare and there will be no excuse.

“We can give lots of excuses. The heat, of course, it is warm. It’ll be warm obviously in kick-off, but it won’t really wash. We have to perform and that’s all we’re focused on.

“We have a lot of international players in the squad who are used to travel. You spend a lot of your life travelling, being in hotels, preparing yourself physically, mentally.

“Our trip out here wasn’t so bad. Guys get the chance to bond together as well.

“It will be nice just to get on the grass to have a light session and get moving again. By the time (Tuesday) comes, we’ll be ready for that. I’m excited to see us play in a pressure game and knowing that we have to win. That’s what you want.”

If Celtic fail to win, they will drop down into the Europa League — but that may not be much consolation to an already disgruntled support.