• Celtic have won all three of their games this season

• Kairat have beaten Olimpija Ljubljana, KuPS and Slovan Bratislava to reach the play-offs

• Recommended bet: Celtic -2

Celtic made the Champions League's knockout play-off phase last season and begin their new European campaign on Wednesday against Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty.

The Scottish champions have made a solid start to the season, beating St Mirren (1-0) and Aberdeen (2-0) in the Premiership and Falkirk 4-1 in the League Cup.

Their Kazakh counterparts have been a bit busier, overcoming Olimpija Ljubljana, KuPS, and Slovan Bratislava to reach the play-offs as they chase a spot in the main draw of the Champions League for the first time.

With next Tuesday's long trip to Central Asia for the return match preceding the season's opening Old Firm derby against Rangers on August 31, Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to see his Bhoys grab a convincing win at Parkhead.

The latest Celtic vs Kairat Almaty odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Rodgers made six changes from the side that beat Aberdeen for Saturday's win over Falkirk.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and defender Cameron Carter-Vickers are expected to return, while Adam Idah could lead the line after starting the victory at Pittodrie.

Dastan Satpayev scored Kairat's winner at home to Slovan and is likely to start in a front three alongside Brazilian duo Edmilson and Jorginho.

However, midfielder Valeriy Gromyko is absent through suspension.

The stats

Celtic played five Champions League games last season, beating Slovan (5-1), Leipzig (3-1) and Young Boys (1-0), while drawing with Club Brugge (1-1) in the league phase before losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the play-off knockout round.

The Bhoys have made the Champions League proper in the last three seasons.

Kairat have come through three qualifying rounds but failed to win any of their away legs, drawing with Ljubljana and losing to KuPS and Slovan, but winning on penalties in Bratislava.

Halyq komandasy have never reached the main stage of the Champions League.

Kairat lost 3-2 to Yelimay Semey on Saturday but their four games before that had only seen one side score.

The latest Celtic vs Kairat Almaty odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Celtic deservedly earned the plaudits for their European run last season, with big nights at Parkhead proving the backbone to their success.

Reaching the league phase of the Champions League brings real prestige and can also provide a boost when tempting targets to Scotland in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Next week's long trip to Kazakhstan for the reverse game is awkwardly placed with that match with Rangers, who face Club Brugge on the other side of this competition's draw, looming afterwards.

Rodgers will want to get the job done in the first leg and not risk a winner-takes-all event in Almaty against a team who have won all three home games in this tournament.

There is one positive to playing in the former Kazakh capital.

That match will be on grass and not an artificial surface like elsewhere in the country, but Celtic are also so at home on Glaswegian turf, losing only to Rangers and Bayern since December 2023.

Kairat head to Scotland after losing 3-2 at home to Yelimay Semey but with only one side scoring in their four games before that, Celtic can triumph with a clean sheet.

Back Celtic -2 at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet

The latest Celtic vs Kairat Almaty odds are available on LiveScore Bet