Pedro ramps up Celtic flattery after Champions League gut punch as he looks to repeat 'special' Lazio strike

Pumped-up Pedro admits he’s desperate to repeat his special Parkhead moment and pile more Champions League pain onto Celtic.

But the Spanish superstar is aware Brendan Rodgers’ side have their own weapons who can leave Rome in ruins. Pedro left Celtic devastated on match day two when his injury-time header gave Lazio victory. The 36-year-old savoured that Glasgow goal and admits he’d love to do it all again in the Stadio Olimpico in a game he's treating like a Final. Pedro said: “Scoring is always great, but when it is such an important goal at such an important time in such a beautiful stadium, that is as good as it gets. It was a great moment for me.

“It was very special to win a Champions League game in this manner and be able to celebrate with all our fans in the corner. We really hope to have another special moment and the same result second time around.”

But Pedro expects it to be tough with plenty of respect for the Parkhead squad and the Scottish game. He continued: “They are a good team with a number of important players like Kyogo and Joe Hart.

“Those are players I really respect and who make Celtic a very difficult team to beat at both ends of the pitch. (Callum) McGregor uses the ball so well and is highly technical. This will not be straightforward for us.

“It was a very hard-fought win at Celtic Park and we’re expecting exactly the same. Celtic are physically a very strong team, they are very strong technically too and they move the ball about well. As with every game in the Champions League, this will be another Final for us.

“Over the course of my career, whenever I have come up against Scottish clubs or players, they have always presented a real physical challenge and I’m not expecting this to be any