Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic aren't 'daft' and know Atletico could be Champions League last chance saloon

Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic aren't 'daft' and know they need a result against Atletico Madrid.

Celtic are looking to make a fist of it in the Champions League after their Spanish adversaries denied them of ending a decade-long wait for a home group win in the competition. And while the daunting task of taking on Diego Simeone's side at the Metropolitano leaves the Group E challenge looking considerably harder, Rodgers goes to the Spanish capital with as close to a full complement as possible and on the crest of a wave.

But the Irishman is under no illusions that they have to take something if their hopes of qualification are to be kept alive. Defeat could even dent their hopes of finishing third in the group and keeping the Euro adventure going until after Christmas in the Europa League, with Lazio hosting group leaders Feyenoord and already three points clear of the Scottish champions.

Rodgers said: "We've played well in the three games and as each game has gone on, the level of performance has been better. We haven't had the breaks that we probably wanted from the games but in terms of performance level - in particular the last game - we've been very, very good.

"But we're under no illusions. We understand we're coming to a fantastic stadium to play against a really good team. We're really excited by that challenge. We're not daft either. We know this is a game we want to get a positive result in to take into the final two games."