Celtic and their uncanny Champions League knack for a…

Celtic and their uncanny Champions League knack for a result that bodes well for Ange and Co

Hopeful Celtic head to Warsaw full of belief in the wake of their first Champions League fixture in five years.

Yes, Real Madrid and their dazzling array of football A-listers stepped through the gears, however, there was plenty to like about the way Ange Postecoglou 's side performed in the 3-0 defeat. Celtic have earned some famous scalps over the years, against the continent's very best, but the application shown by the current crop bodes well.

But Postecoglou knows there can be no slowing down now ahead of a trip to face a Shakhtar Donetsk team playing for something greater than three points. Their rousing 4-1 triumph away to Leipzig showed off their spirit and skill as they aim to do Ukraine proud amid Russia's invasion of their country. Defeating Shakhtar is no easy task, of course, but Celtic can be motivated by both the past and present. The current side are aiming to recreate the storied nights which became a staple of their exploits in Europe during the early part of the 21st century.

And matchday two in this competition has proved fruitful over the years. It's never easy to pick up points against the best but Celtic do it better than the vast majority of sides out of the top five leagues in their second fixture.

To put into context, Celtic have only ever won ONE fixture on the opening night across both the Champions League and Europa League group stage. That didn't come until the 2018/19 season when they earned a 1-0 win over Rosenborg thanks to Leigh Griffiths' late header. But they come alive in their second fixture, a proven record of righting the wrongs of the opening night.

And another key factor to note, Celtic have never suffered a heavy defeat in their second Champions League fixture in any of their previous 10 visits to European football's top table. They lost 3-1 to Milan in 2004, however, anyone who recalls that game will know Celtic were in the ascendency when Stan Varga bulleted home a header in the 74th minute. That was before Martin O'Neill was left crestfallen as Simone Inzaghi and Andrea Pirlo both netted a goal apiece in the final two minutes to breaks Hoops hearts.

But matchday two has been very good to Celtic and they need it to be so again when they take on Shakhtar on Wednesday. A win opens up Group F and brings them level with the side they will face in Poland. RB Leipzig, set for a new manager bounce under Marco Rose face a daunting trip to the Bernabeu before their double header with Postecoglou's men.

Record Sport looks at the numbers and the knack for getting it right at the second attempt under O'Neill, Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers.