Can Celtic beat Ajax?

Yes, says Alison McConnell

Of course Celtic are capable of beating Ajax.

However, what you would have to say on the evidence of this season’s Europa League campaign to date, is that there has to be a massive improvement on the very obvious frailties that have existed within the Celtic defence.

Ronny Deila speaks of “small margins” being the difference and in many respects he is correct; two marginal off-side decisions in the early stages of the game against Molde at Celtic Park would have made for a very different evening when Celtic played the Norwegians a few weeks back.

But the individual mistakes mist be addressed. There needs to be greater cohesion within the side from the back. If Deila can iron out those problems then Celtic always look like a team who can score goals and create chances.

The big issue is simply whether they can remains resolute at the other side of the pitch in order to protect anything that they may get against Ajax.

It is a massive night for Deila since his own position will come under scrutiny once more should Celtic fail to see of Frank de Boer’s side.

Unlikely, says Matthew Lindsay

CELTIC have, despite the criticism which has come their way, performed well in spells in both their Champions League qualifiers and Europa League group games this season.

Against Qarabag, Malmo, Ajax and Fenerbahce and even Molde they have shown glimpses of what they are capable of both in attack and in defence. The problem has been doing it for 90 minutes.

At some stage during the course of a game, Ronny Deila’s side has switched off and allowed their opponents to net. If they could maintain their focus for the whole match they would be fine.

But this Celtic team is a work in progress. They have too many young players who are too inexperienced at the highest level in Europe to acquit themselves with the sort of consistency needed.

Next season it may be a different story. Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic will benefit from the game time they have received in the 2015/16 campaign and should fare more impressively.

Having Simunovic available for this game should strengthen Celtic's defence. But if they can’t beat a Molde team which is in sixth place in the Norwegian league then do they really have a chance of beating an Ajax side which is currently leading the Dutch top flight?

Of course, a packed Parkhead can make a difference to the Scottish champions. But Nir Bitton and Stefan Johansen are both suspended and Kris Commons is a doubt.

Deila needs all of his best players available to him if he is orchestrate a victory over Frank de Boer’s side and, unfortunately for him, he just doesn’t have them at his disposal.