Familiarity can breed contempt.

When Celtic came out of the hat to meet their Group C Champions League fate at the end of this summer, it was the ninth time they found themselves squaring up to Barcelona in Europe’s premier competition. Not that a sell-out Celtic Park crowd tomorrow night will complain as the superstars of Barcelona roll into town again.

The teams have also met in the UEFA Cup in 2004 – a tie that Celtic came out of on top to progress – but it is, inevitably the Catalans who hold the upperhand against the Parkhead men; of the 12 times the teams have met since 1964, Celtic have claimed two wins to Barca’s seven. Three games have ended in a share of the spoils.

Read more: Mark Wilson tells Hoops fans to take the roof off of Celtic Park against Barcelona

Former Hoops full-back Mark Wilson was one of those on the losing side against Barcelona when the teams met under Gordon Strachan in 2008.

The visitors ran out 3-2 winners in Glasgow before a 1-0 win in Spain put them into the last eight of the Champions League.

“You score two goals against Barcelona and you think you are doing alright but against a team like that you always know that they have the manpower up front to make you pay,” said Wilson.

“We were in front twice in that game – big Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored to give us the lead and then Barry Robson scored with a header to put is 2-1 up before the break.

Read more: Mark Wilson tells Hoops fans to take the roof off of Celtic Park against Barcelona

“Lionel Messi had scored in the first-half and then Thierry Henry levelled it for them in the second half before Messi scored his second and their third.

“We felt a bit hard done by because we put so much into the game but it is one of those things that it is a really difficult ask taking anything from a team who have been regarded as the best in the game for the best part of a decade now. Messi wasn't even at his peak yet - but he was immense that night. Quite unplayable at times so I know how tough it will be for the Celtic guys tomorrow night to keep a handle on him.

"I was up against Henry and Ronaldhino after coming on for the last half hour and it was an education."

Messi missed Barcelona’s weekend draw with Malaga through illness but the word is that he will take his place to line up against Celtic.

Having lost in Manchester to Pep Guardiola’s side in the last game, Barcelona will arrive in Glasgow firmly looking to establish themselves as the top team in the group. Currently two points better off at the top of group C than Manchester City, a win against Celtic would enable them to effectively seal that first spot, so important for the placings going into the draw for the knock-put stages of the tournament.

Celtic, though, have shown a growing maturity in the competition since that first game in Barcelona.

The 7-0 defeat in the Nou Camp was a brutal experience for Brendan Rodgers’ side as they endured the heaviest European defeat in Celtic’s history.

And yet, while the aftermath of that game gave rise to a question mark over whether or not Celtic would bank even a point in what is a formidable group, they have so far taken one from City and another one in Germany from Borussia Monchengladbach.

And Wilson believes there is evidence to suggest that the current Celtic team have shown a capacity to absorb the lessons of Europe’s premier competition.

“It is a tough competition,” said Wilson. “You are going from dominating domestic games to going into an environment where you are playing against the best players in the world.

“It takes only one mistake and you can find yourself out of the game. These teams are ruthless and although Celtic lost heavily over there, I honestly don’t think it will feature too heavily in their minds going into tomorrow’s game.

“We have seen it time and time again but Celtic at Celtic Park are a different team entirely. Barcelona will hammer more than Celtic in the Nou Camp. I know a lot of people said that but it is the truth.

“Celtic came back from the game to produce arguably their best performance in the competition against Manchester City. The place was rocking that night and the players went out and put on a show.

“Rodgers has already shown that he is a top manager simply by getting Celtic into the group stages in the first place. It is a big ask for any team to do a number on Barcelona – a Barcelona team that many will fancy to go on and win the competition.

“But they said that in 2012 and look what happened. The odds are massively against them tomorrow but there isn’t one player in that Celtic team who will go out with that thought in their mind.

“They have a good manager, they’ll be organised, they’ll all know what their jobs are. They all play a blinder and one or two of the Barca guys are below par and you just never know. That’s the beauty of football.”

Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of the night when a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick gave Celtic a 1-0 win over Manchester United. Artur Boruc saved a spot-kick as Celtic celebrated going beyond the group stages for the first time.

Read more: Mark Wilson tells Hoops fans to take the roof off of Celtic Park against Barcelona

As the club look to eek out a result that would ignite their hopes of remaining in European football beyond Christmas, it is the likes of Moussa Dembele that will be relied upon to do something special.

“He has really caught the eye this season with his performances, especially in the Champions League,” said Wilson. “But while you will look to him to do take any half chance that comes his way, the two wide guys are massive.

“Scott Sinclair was on fire the first few months into his time at Celtic. On the kind of form that we saw from him and James Forrest in the opening months of the season then they are capable of doing damage.

“Scott Brown too has been at his best this season with a few massive performances in the Champions League. If these guys can turn it on for Celtic and they can keep their focus at the back then they might just give themselves a wee half chance. Who knows?

“Certainly, it would be brilliant to see.”