AVOIDING DEFEAT

AVOIDING DEFEAT

Says RONNIE CULLY:

The fact Celtic are now entering a league format after playing knockout football in Europe to this point means the pressure is removed to a certain extent.

However, Ronny Deila's side do not want to be playing catch-up in the group and will look to get on the board from the off.

Salzburg, like Celtic, will be smarting from having failed to make it into the Champions League, and will see a decent run in the Europa League as essential to try and regain some European credibility in the eyes of their supporters.

Red Bull are the top seeds and favourites to win the group.

So, if Celtic can return from Austria with anything at all, it would be an excellent start for them.

The Hoops have shown they are adept at scoring away from home in Europe, but must tighten up at the back because a number of the goals they have conceded have been very avoidable.

A DRAW

Says MICHAEL GRANT:

FORGET worrying about away goals. Forget coming away from Austria with a narrow defeat which can be turned around at Parkhead.

The start of the Europa League group means Celtic aren't playing cup ties any more, they're in a little league now and that means playing for points.

Avoiding defeat against Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday night would lay the foundation for what might become a successful six-game campaign.

This is the hardest fixture they'll face in Group D, but the reality is that they need to start building form and confidence in Europe again and that'll only begin with solid results in difficult tests like this one.

They've won only three of their last 12 games in Europe.

Ronny Deila said the Europa League is the team's level. Thursday will begin to show if he's right, or if even that claim was too optimistic.

A draw would be fine.