Back to this evening's proceedings. This will be Celtic captain Scott Brown's 100th European match. He becomes the first Scot to reach that landmark and is a long way ahead of the rest. (Ex-Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson is next on the list on 82 games).

It all began 14 years ago in an Intertoto Cup fixture for Hibs against Lithuanian side Vetra - and there should be a few more to come yet.

"My bucket list is basically to keep playing as long as possible," said the 33-year-old, who has played 73 Champions League matches, 22 in the Uefa Cup/Europa League and four in the Intertoto.

"I feel as fit and healthy as ever, so trying to get into the Champions League every year is the main one.

"It’s a great honour to become the first Scot to reach 100 games in Europe but for me this is all about being involved in the group stages. That’s when it counts more."

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Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Brendan Rodgers was reluctant to discuss the possible return to Celtic Park of Emilio Izaguirre, or any disappointment at seeing John McGinn opt for Aston Villa instead. That move has just been confirmed by Villa by the way.

"My concentration has been purely on the game," Rodgers added. "I think once we sign a player you will be the first ones to know.

"My concentration is fully on the players we have at the moment. Between now and the end of August, we’ll see if we can strengthen."

Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

The coach who led AEK to the Greek title last season, Manuel Jimenez, has since departed to take over Las Palmas in his native Spain.

In his place is 49-year-old Marinos Ouzounidis, who was in charge of Greek rivals Panathinaikos for the past two seasons.

AEK is the 10th different Greek club he has managed since 2004, giving you some idea of the capricious nature of this managerial lark.

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has called AEK a "Champions League team" and expects a "real examination" over the two legs.

AEK were indeed the first Greek team to reach the group stage in 1994-95, beating Rangers along the way.

Their recent history though has been beset by financial problems, points deductions and relegation in 2013, before they briefly became an amateur club and made their way back to the top flight two years later.

Steady improvement since has seen them finish third, second and then champions - for the first time in 24 years - in May, aided by some bizarre points deductions for their closest rivals.

The president of runners-up PAOK Salonika - with a gun in his hip holster - confronted the referee after he disallowed a late goal for offside against AEK in March, leading to the suspension of the Greece Superleague for a fortnight. AEK were awarded the match 3-0 and PAOK were given a three-point deduction.

AEK were in the Europa League last year, finishing unbeaten in their group - including two 0-0 draws with group winners AC Milan - before going out on away goals to Dynamo Kiev in the last-32.

So no mugs, clearly, though they could be a touch ring-rusty tonight, with the Greek season not starting until 25 August.

But Niklas Hult, their Swedish defender, insists they arrive in Glasgow "with good confidence after a 3-2 friendly win over Galatasaray last week.

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Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic face AEK Athens tonight amidst a backdrop of growing tensions between the manager and the board over the club’s perceived inactivity in the transfer market.

Brendan Rodgers' comments about deals not being done fast enough have not gone down well with a board who believe their transfer record stands up to scrutiny.

A couple of acquisitions before the window closes should ease tensions but it’s the first sign of cracks in what has been a very happy camp.

AEK Athens have enjoyed their previous ties with Scottish opposition. The Greek champions have progressed on all four occasions and have only lost once in eight matches - at Hibs in 2001.

• 1994 Champions League qualifier: AEK Athens 2-0 Rangers, Rangers 0-1 AEK Athens
• 2001 Uefa Cup first round: AEK Athens 2-0 Hibernian, Hibernian 3-2 AEK Athens (AET)
• 2006 Champions League qualifier: Hearts 1-2 AEK Athens, AEK Athens 3-0 Hearts
• 2010 Europa League play-off: Dundee Utd 0-1 AEK Athens, AEK Athens 1-1 Dundee Utd

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Much of the pre-match discussion has been fuelled by Brendan Rodgers' comments at his press conference on Tuesday, suggesting he is not overly impressed with the Celtic board's efforts to strengthen his squad this summer.

After Stuart Armstrong's departure, John McGinn was a target to reinforce his midfield options, but the Hibernian talisman now appears to be heading to Aston Villa instead.

Striker Odsonne Edouard has made his move permanent, but there have been no new arrivals, with loanees Patrick Roberts and Charly Musonda also not returning.

Full-back Emilio Izaguirre appears to be on his way back to Glasgow, but what else do Celtic need? Is Rodgers right to vent his frustration publically?

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Richard Gordon and the Sportsound team are already bringing you all the build-up from Celtic Park, with live commentary to follow. Click on the link above or tune your radio to 810 MW for all the pre-match chat.

Former Celtic players Pat Bonner and Scott McDonald will be giving their views on their old team throughout the evening.

Celtic: Gordon; Lustig, Hendry, Ajer, Tierney, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Forrest, Rogic, Edouard.

Substitutes: Bain, Simunovic, Kouassi, Sinclair, Hayes, Johnston, Griffiths.

AEK Athens: Barkas, Bakakis, Oikonomou, Lampropoulos, Helder Lopes, Galanopoulos, Andre Simoes, Bakasetas, Klonaridis, Boye, Livaja.

Substitutes: Tsintotas, Giakoumakis, Rodrigo Galo, Cosic, Ponce, Hult, Alef.

Kieran Tierney returns to his usual spot on the left flank for Celtic tonight, as Brendan Rodgers tweaks his starting side after their opening 3-1 Premiership win over Livingston.

Jack Hendry also returns in central defence, with Jozo Simunovic and Jonny Hayes both dropping to the bench.

Oliver Ntcham, who picked up an ankle knock late on against Livingston, has recovered to start alongside captain Scott Brown in central midfield.

With Moussa Dembele still nursing a hamstring strain, Odsonne Edouard leads the line again, with Leigh Griffiths hoping to step up his match fitness with another outing from the bench.

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In the mini-marathon of Champions League qualifying, Celtic are halfway there.

Two rounds negotiated relatively comfortably, two more to go to reach the promised land of the group stage for a third successive year.

Tonight it's Greek champions AEK Athens on the menu in the first leg of the third qualifying round at Celtic Park.

It's a balmy evening in Glasgow. 'Paradise' is filling up, the atmosphere is building nicely. What's not to like?

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