Celtic challenged to break ANOTHER record as Liam Scales draws out path to Champions League knockouts

Liam Scales believes Celtic can launch a bold bid for the Champions League last 16.

And the Parkhead ace is determined to secure a landmark win over Slovan Bratislava to kickstart their charge. Brendan Rodgers’ on-form troops are gearing up for Wednesday’s mouth-watering Euro opener against the Slovaks. Celtic go into the tie in great shape as they target making an impact on the continent’s biggest stage.

Rodgers wants to attack the tournament as he eyes progression beyond the new league phase and Scales agreed: “Yeah, definitely. It would be great for the club to be playing in knockout games in Europe. It would be amazing and that’s what we’re looking at. With the new format, who knows how it’s going to work out. Obviously it’s the first year it’s happened, so we need to go in thinking that we can get into the last 16 or into the play-off for the last 16, whatever way it works.”

Rodgers made key additions to his unit during the summer transfer window and, asked if the squad assembled is geared towards getting into that last 16 stage, Scales said: “Yeah, definitely. There are two or three players in each position that are more capable of starting and making an impact for us.

“So I think that’s really going to push all of us to play our best football and I think we’re in a good place. It’s nice to have the extra games as well. I think it’s all positive.

“We know how difficult games in Europe are and we are prepared for that. But, at the same time, we’re happy with where we are.”

Celtic can get off to a flyer by beating Bratislava and laying a night-one bogey. In the previous group-stage set-up, the Parkhead side failed in 12 attempts to win their opening section game in a run stretching back to 2001.

But victory