Ronny Deila today warned his Celtic players they must replicate their performance against Inter Milan from last season to have any chance of beating Qarabag FK of Azerbaijan.

The Norwegian believes his team could hardly have landed a more difficult draw in the third round of Champions League qualifiers.

The first-leg takes place in Glasgow next Wednesday and then Celtic face a 7000 mile round trip to Baku the following week.

Qarabag may not be a household name, but they themselves drew with Inter Milan last season in the Europa League group stages and are going to be dangerous opponents.

Deila said: "They are a very good team.They beat Twente Enschede in the Europa League qualifiers and did well in the Europa League group as well.

"So we have to be at the top of our game to progress. It’s a difficult draw but you can’t think like that.

“We have to take what is coming in front of us. We know we are good enough. But we have to be at our best and at least we are at home first. That is going to be an important match.

"It’s normal that when you get bigger tasks you step it up. So we need to be at our Inter Milan level to get through.”

Deila hopes the fact Qarabag face a lengthy journey themselves not long after a return trip from Montenegro will have a detrimental effect on them.

He said: "Now it’s important to understand it’s going to be hard for them as well.

"They have to go to Scotland the same as we have to go to them. So they also have a difficult journey to come to Glasgow.

“But we have to prepare well and I think we will go there one day before the normal to adapt because it is five hours or something on the plane.”

Deila does have a quandary regarding who starts up front next week.

Leigh Griffiths was a substitute for both matches against FC Stjarnan and came off the bench in Iceland and scored.

Nadir Ciftci has missed a couple of chances, although Celtic have looked a better team when the two have played together.

Deila said: "It is so important we have players who are able to be a sub sometimes and can go on and perform like Leigh does.

"That’s team spirit and putting the team in front of yourself. If he continues doing this, it is hard to keep him out of the team.

“Both Nadir and Leigh have different qualities. When the games get open, Leigh is a very good player.

"It was open in Eibar last weekend and he got his chances, but it was going to be tighter in Iceland. We need players who score, so he is important.

“We can also play two up front. We haven’t done that much because we have not have the time for them to get used to doing it, so everything is a transition.”