Kairat Almaty have won all six previous home qualifiers in the Champions League
Celtic failed to score at home for the first time December 2023 in the first leg
Recommended bet: Celtic -1
Celtic were left with major regrets after a listless first leg showing in Glasgow against Kairat Almaty ensured this tie is in the balance ahead of their trip to Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
The Hoops were a long way below their best, while Kairat Almaty were solid and well organised, without offering much attacking threat.
There is a major prize on offer to the Scottish champions if they can overcome this hurdle and Brendan Rodgers knows his side have the wherewithal to achieve it.
Team news
Goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy is a doubt for the home team after being forced off injured in Glasgow, while forward Dastan Satapayev — scorer of three goals in qualifying already — is suspended after his booking in the first leg.
Long-term absentees Elder Santana and Joao Paul miss out.
Rodgers rested the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Kieran Tierney and skipper Callum McGregor for Saturday's 3-0 home win over Livingston, with his mind clearly on this game.
They are all likely to be recalled, while Adam Idah, who started the first leg, is set for a bench role now. Right-back Alastair Johnston is out for around 12 weeks and fellow defender Auston Trusty has not travelled as he has a plantar fascia issue.
The stats
Kairat Almaty have won all six Champions League qualifiers played at home.
The Kazakh side have four clean sheets in their last six games.
Celtic have lost the away leg in four of their last five UCL play-offs.
The Hoops have scored 10 goals and conceded one in three domestics outings this season.
Summer signing Benjamin Nygren has scored three goals in his three most recent starts for Celtic.
The latest Kairat Almaty vs Celtic odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Ahead of this make or break contest, Rodgers told his players not to "worry about failing", the Parkhead boss instead urging them to focus on the performance they need to deliver.
Rodgers' side earned a reported £38m from last season's run to the round of 16 in this competition. The Hoops boss has spoken openly about the need to strengthen his options, with Nicolas Kuhn departing to Como this summer and no long-term replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi up front since his exit in January.
When last on their travels in Europe, Celtic took the fight to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in February, denied a famous victory only by Alphonso Davies' bundled leveller in stoppage time.
Last week's first leg in Glasgow was a tough watch for any neutral as Celtic toiled and Kairat absorbed. The visitors won praise but, despite Celtic's overall lethargy, they didn't manage a single shot on goal — bar one that hit the net but was reviewed and found to be offside.
Kairat needed a stoppage time penalty in the previous round to break down a limited Slovan Bratislava side that were down to 10 men.
With Rodgers' words ringing in their ears — and the bounty of the Champions League at their fingertips — Celtic should apply themselves and go through with some daylight.
