The skyrocketing numbers behind Celtic's bid to create Champions League history with play-off only the start

Celtic return to Champions League nights under the lights in a matter of hours as they welcome Slovan Bratislava to Glasgow.

The Hoops are back amongst Europe's elite as they begin their quest to create history and reach the play-off for the first time in the newly revamped tournament. All 36 teams will now compete in one league phase rather than the traditional group stage format. Games have also been upped from 6 - playing each of the three opponents paired with home and away - to 8 with four games at home and four on the road. It's been a favourable draw for the Scottish champions, particularly with the games they will play at Parkhead.

Brendan Rodgers has a target of the play-off round in mind. To achieve that he will need to guide Celtic to a finish between 9 and 24 in the standings come the end of matchday eight. His confidence has been matched by BoyleSports who place the Hoops at just 13/8 to get the job done in that regard. A top eight finish would see Celtic skip the two-legged knockout and punters can back that outcome at 12/1 . Fancy a spot in the final? Why not stick £1 on at 100/1 or better yet finish top of the group stage or winning the full competition is a whopping 250/1. Unrealistic? Maybe, yes,. But Leicester City's fairytale EPL triumph will always have fans dreaming.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Celtic have enjoyed a dream start to the season and punters clearly believe the new Champions League format is going to play into their hands because they’re showing increased confidence that the Hoops will progress to the knockout stages.”

Celtic Champions League odds (BoyleSports)