The lament coming from the Celtic fans as they slowly trickled out of the Camp Nou after being hit for seven was probably ‘Well things can only get better’.

Tomorrow, the Parkhead side will take on the might of Manchester City in Champions League match day No.2, a match that will be broadcast exclusively live on BT Sport, hoping that they can put behind them their Barcelona thrashing and kick start their Group C campaign.

The Hoops supporters that were present in the Catalan capital earlier this month may believe that, given the strength of the opposition against the La Liga champions, that their campaign will commence in Glasgow tomorrow.

Read more: Man City legend reckons Guardiola's men will thrive in Celtic Park cauldronGlasgow Times:

Sadly, I actually think this game is another one that nobody will expect them to take anything from, and to be honest I think they are probably right.

For me, the days when clubs like Celtic can upset the heavyweights of Europe’s top competition are over. The gulf is just getting bigger.

Read more: Man City legend reckons Guardiola's men will thrive in Celtic Park cauldron

The Champions League is evolving and not to the benefit of clubs like Celtic. Look at match day No.1 when Borussia Dortmund hammered Legia Warsaw 6-0, and of course the result in the Camp Nou stands out. I don’t think it gets any easier for Celtic now.

A home game should level the playing field, yet I don’t know that it actually will. I think City could win the Champions League this year, they have improved under Pep Guardiola.

They are slicker, their overall play is better. I’m looking at this fixture as the prelude to the two games with Monchengladbach. They are the important ones for Brendan Rodgers and his team.

Celtic are the underdogs against the Germans as well but the genuine hope Celtic fans have is to be in Europe after Christmas, realistically in the Europa League.

Rodgers said his team were too passive at the Camp Nou, and he’s right, they need to try and press City when they can. They have high tech level and are comfortable on the ball, but the crowd can play their part. I remember Gordon Strachan saying the supporters can only do so much, but I think the positive way to look at it is the pressure will be on the visitors and that can be a factor.

Turning back to Celtic, I believe the key issue is their No.1 slot. Does Brendan pick Dorus de Vries (if fit) or Craig Gordon?

When De Vries was signed a lot of us thought he‘d get a long run on the assumption he’d not signed to be reserve. However, he’s not been totally convincing and at the weekend you could lay blame at his door for the early concession of a goal to Kilmarnock from a ridiculous range.

Domestically you go a long period without doing so much, in Europe it’s different. In the Camp Nou you could maybe say one of the seven was his fault at Neymar’s free-kick. It’s a test being a Celtic goalkeeper.

I would think Rodgers would still lean towards De Vries, but I think it’s getting to the point where another mistake could see the momentum swing back towards Gordon. Celtic fans will be praying it doesn’t happen tomorrow if he’s the man selected.

The other main issue surrounds Leigh Griffiths. The forward has been missing due to injury but in his absence Moussa Dembele has more than proved he is capable of pitching in with the goals.

Having said that, I think if he’s fit you have to play the Scot. He scored at the weekend and in a home game you want him from the start.

Read more: Man City legend reckons Guardiola's men will thrive in Celtic Park cauldron

Griffiths was the catalyst against Be’er Sheva and Fenerbahce last season as well as Malmo. You hope there is a pattern there.

I don’t think there are weak links in this City team, it’s more about how you play them. You do have to try decide how to play.

You can look at their personnel and you don’t see weakness. They have improved immensely under Guardiola.

Celtic will want to press them and get in their faces. You can’t do that for 90 minutes but an element of pressing will be important. You have to hope some of the City players have an off night and that the home team can take full advantage.