O'Neill's big night as last 16 beckons

Champions League, Group A Celtic v Bayern Munich: What might have been is one of the most prevalent laments in football for managers, players and fans alike. But, from Martin O'Neill down, everyone in green and white will skip to Parkhead this evening giddy with thoughts of what might be.

There is a dream scenario for Celtic tonight and what makes the sense of anticipation greater is that chunks of the dream are theirs to attain.

Defeat Bayern Munich and Celtic will have nine points - four more than Bayern. With one game then left, the Germans could not catch the Scottish club.

It gets better: a Celtic win with a Lyon draw or victory against Anderlecht in Belgium, and Celtic will have qualified for the last 16 of the competition for the first time since its restructuring, and will be playing European Cup soccer football after Christmas for the first time since 1980.

Consequently it is time for big questions and big answers, and O'Neill obliged, responding to the question whether this was the biggest fixture in his three years at Celtic with: "Tomorrow gives us a very good chance to reach the last 16 of the Champions League and if this tournament is deemed the Holy Grail, then I would say yes.

"A few years ago we beat Ajax to reach the Champions League group stages, which was a big thing then."

That achievement was reckoned to be worth £12 million to Celtic, but the prestige of once again being considered a major European force attracts Celtic as much as the money.

Reaching last season's UEFA Cup final will be seen in a different light should Celtic prevail.

"Getting through the group stages would be as big as reaching the UEFA Cup final because then you are one of the best 16 teams in Europe," said midfielder Neil Lennon. "If you play in the UEFA Cup you can't really say that, because you are out of the Champions League."

Lennon then identified Liam Miller as a key figure this evening - and many in Glasgow share that opinion of the Corkman, who has been a revelation in midfield.

Bayern's rich history in Europe's premier club competition make them a good yardstick for any aspiring club.

"Bayern Munich are a top-quality side and probably think that they might have had more points in the group," said O'Neill.

The Celtic manager probably thinks the same is true of his own club, given that three of Bayern points were snatched from Celtic in the group's opening match when Celtic led 1-0 in the Olympic Stadium until the final 15 minutes before going down 2-1.

Celtic then failed to overcome Anderlecht in Brussels, despite the Belgians being down to 10 men for most of the game.

But that is in the past, as is Celtic's formidable home record - 62 games without defeat.

The good news for O'Neill is that goalkeeper Magnus Hedman looks set to play despite suffering a back spasm at Dundee United on Saturday.

CELTIC (3-5-2, probable): Hedman; Varga, Balde, Mjallby; Agathe, Miller, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson; Sutton, Larsson.

BAYERN MUNICH (4-4-2, probable): Kahn; Sagnol, Kuffour, Kovac, Lizarazu; Salihamidzic, Jeremies, Ballack, Ze Roberto; Makaay, Pizarro.

Guardian Service