The Spanish giants – currently on a seven-game unbeaten run – arrive in Glasgow top of Group E on four points after two matches, with Celtic at the foot on zero points following two defeats by Feyenoord and Lazio. Their manager Brendan Rodgers accepts that Celtic must take at least a point from the match at Parkhead if they are to maintain hope of finishing in the top two, while defender Greg Taylor spelled out the size of the challenge facing him and his team-mates against the La Liga outfit.

"You have deliver an almost perfect performance in this competition,” said the left-back. “When the chances come, you have to take them. World-class players will hurt you, so it's about limiting those moments and controlling where they hurt you. We're built for playing pressing, aggressive football. It's what the club demands. We work every day to play that way. Performances have been close in the first two games [a 2-0 defeat by Feyenoord and a 2-1 loss to Lazio] but we haven't given a full 90 minute-performance. The team is gelling, domestically we are getting stronger, and we feel prepared to go and get the result we want.”

Celtic have not won a home Champions League group stage tie in 11 outings and while Rodgers does not feel the game against Atletico is win or bust, a point could be so crucial in keeping their European aspirations alive beyond Christmas. Finishing third would ensure dropping into the Europa League and the manager said: “I think it is important for us, if we are going to progress, in any of the competitions going forward, we have to take something for tomorrow, otherwise it’s a hugely difficult challenge for us. But I’m excited to see us take that challenge on.”

Brendan Rodgers speaks to the press ahead of Celtic's match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

Rodgers continued: “We know at this level, you have to bring your A-game to have any chance of getting a result. We can’t just give away what we do in normal games. This is a team that is too experienced for that and a manager who is too experienced for that. So we know we have to do more to get a result.

“One of the biggest things at this level is concentration. You drop your guard for a second and you get punished. For us, it's about having that collective mentality. There has to be a green and white block moving up and down the pitch. Everyone together. If we can do that and keep our concentration, we have a great chance against any team, especially here at home."

Celtic’s last outing in the competition, against Lazio at home, came to a painful conclusion when Pedro headed home a stoppage-time winner, just minutes after Luis Palma had a goal disallowed for Celtic. “It was numbing at the end because we didn’t feel we deserved that,” Rodgers added. “But I’m not looking for condolences for defeats. It was a real indication of the level we are at and it is up to us to go and progress that level.”

Celtic are expected to be unchanged from the team that defeated Hearts on Sunday on domestic league duty, with central defenders Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh still sidelined by injury.

Greg Taylor feels Celtic will need to be near flawless to defeat Atletico Madrid.

Probable Celtic team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Hatate, McGregor, O’Riley; Maeda, Furuhashi, Palma.

Celtic pragmatic in face of Atletico fire: probable team, Greg Taylor's 'near perfection' and what left manager numbed