UCL: Caltex Socceroo set for Messi's Barca

Caltex Socceroo Tom Rogic should come straight back into Celtic’s starting side for tomorrow (Thurs) morning’s UEFA Champions League clash against Barcelona in Glasgow.

In a must-win game for the Hoops to keep their hopes of UCL progression alive, Rogic is likely to start after only playing 25 minutes in the club’s Scottish Premier League win at Kilmarnock on the weekend.

And Celtic will need Rogic at his best against a Barca side boosted by the return from injury of superstar Lionel Messi, and who thumped Celtic 7-0 at the Camp Nou in September.

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"We showed them too much respect and the scoreline was bitterly disappointing at the time," Rodgers said of that defeat, Celtic’s heaviest in Europe.

Tom Rogic's Celtic have been handed a tough group in the UEFA Champions League, including Spanish giants Barcelona.

"There were many aspects we learnt from, like being brave, and the players have shown they have learned from that.  

"It was a tough game against a top-class, world-class team, but I'd hope it will be a different performance from ourselves.

"We have to fight and ensure we do everything we can to try to stop them, but it's not easy.

"They are a team of quality that can play through pressure and we have to play how we are best – on the front foot.

"You also need a little bit of luck as well and when the opportunities come, you can take them."

Barca ran riot that night with Messi scoring a hat-trick, while Luis Suarez (two) and Neymar also got on the scoresheet.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez celebrate scoring against Valencia in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

With Rogic in sensational form, Celtic has improved since then and have a 10-point lead at the top of the SPL.

Celtic must win and hope Manchester City fail to defeat Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany to keep their UCL Round of 16 hopes alive.