Barcelona v Celtic preview: Scott Brown fit for Champions League opener

Celtic captain Scott Brown has been declared fit to face Barcelona in their Champions League group-stage opener at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

The skipper, who hobbled out of Saturday's 5-1 victory over Rangers, has travelled with the squad and is set to lead the side out when the Hoops return to Europe's elite club competition for the first time in three seasons.

Assistant manager, Chris Davies, says the Scottish champions are aiming to trouble a Barcelona side who suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat by newly-promoted Alaves on Saturday.

"I've no doubt whatsoever that Barcelona will be respecting the level we're going to bring," Davies told Sky Sports News HQ. "We do take confidence into the game.

"For us it's logical that our home form is going to be decisive in the Champions League - if ever there was a 12th man it's Celtic fans.

"But having said that the level of our play, with the goals we're scoring, how creative we're looking and how organised we're looking, we're confident we can go anywhere and get points. That's what we're taking to the game."

Meanwhile, Luis Enrique expects a response from his Barcelona side after their shock La Liga defeat on Saturday.

Enrique came under fire after making seven changes - including leaving Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the bench - as their 100 per cent start to the season was ended in dramatic fashion by Alaves' first league win at Barcelona in a decade.

"I would like to never lose," Enrique said. "This team has had two years (of success) beyond any doubt, but that doesn't mean we can't lose.

"We will try to change that, but we are not interested in the past. The team has reacted well. They are obviously annoyed because we don't like and are not accustomed to losing at home.

"We have the shortest turnaround you can have between games. The players are rested and desperate to compete and play again in the Camp Nou in a competition that excites us."

Team news

Celtic's top scorer Leigh Griffiths is missing with a hamstring injury, so Moussa Dembele is in line to start up-front following his hat-trick in the Old Firm derby.

Messi, Suarez and Andres Iniesta are set to return for Barcelona after being rested on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen made his Barcelona debut on Saturday and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who could make an earlier than expected return from a hamstring injury, trained on Monday.

Opta stats

Barcelona have won six of their eight Champions League games against Celtic, with the latter's only win coming in November 2012 when they beat the Catalan side 2-1 at Celtic Park

Celtic have lost on their last three trips to the Nou Camp, all in the Champions League.

Messi has netted 83 goals in the Champions League, the second highest tally in the competition behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has a tally of 93.

Neymar's first hat-trick for Barcelona came against Celtic in the Champions League in December 2013, when Barca thrashed the Scottish side 6-1.

Rodgers has won just one of his six group games as a manager in the Champions League - that victory coming in September 2014 when his former club Liverpool beat Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1.

Charlie predicts

It's a great game in terms of the occasion and Celtic rarely actually get hammered when they face Barcelona.

Celtic are a threat at set-pieces but I can't see how many they'll get and Scott Sinclair and Dembele aren't experienced at this level, so I'd be happy with walking away with a 2-0 defeat.

Barca obviously had a bad result at the weekend but Neymar and Iniesta got some game-time while Messi and Suarez had a break.

They'll have an angry head on after the weekend and I'm fearing the worst here. I'd be interested in the odds on Celtic having less than 20 per cent of the ball and it could be anything if the three amigos are on their game.

Charlie predicts: 4-0 and Messi to score first (14/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting odds

Celtic are up against odds of 25/1 with Sky Bet to begin the group stages with a victory at Barcelona, who are just 1/12 for the win, and 9/1 just to secure a draw.

Enrique's men are considered 11/4 favourites in the Champions League outright, while their visitors are given a painfully slim 500/1 chance.

Luis Suarez heads the first goalscoring betting at just 2/1, closely followed by Messi at 5/2, while Griffiths and Dembele are considered Celtic's main threats at 12/1 apiece.