Celtic head to Finnair Stadium on Wednesday desperate to improve on a wretched away record in the Champions League and keep their European dream alive (KO 19:00 CET 20:00 local time).

Neil Lennon’s men have won just one of 33 away matches in Europe but take on HJK Helsinki in the second-leg of a Champions League third round qualifying clash with a 2-1 lead from the first leg in Glasgow.

The Bhoys – overwhelming 1/40 favourites to win the Scottish Premier League – have only managed to score in 10 out of their last 22 European road trips and their approach to this return fixture is intriguing. The fact that Celtic do not have to win this game to progress makes it even more difficult for punters.

HJK Helsinki can be backed at 13/8 to win in 90 minutes, while a rare away win is quoted 11/8, but the evidence suggests the draw could have legs at 11/5 and this would see the visitors progress.

Backing teams who do not need to win is always a minefield and it may be that Lennon decides to pack his midfield and frustrate the home side.

Key to their hopes will be the fitness of combative midfielder Scott Brown, who has a hip injury, and whether Lennon decides to try protect his side’s advantage or go for the kill.

James Forrest is battling to recover from a groin problem, Charlie Mulgrew makes his returns from his weekend suspension and Georgios Samaras has recovered from a face knock.

The Finns returned home seething at Czech referee Miroslav Zelinka for allowing Celtic to take the corner that led to the winner while HJK were making a substitution and have their own motivation to send the Scottish champions packing.

The home side will have the edge in terms of match sharpness given that their domestic campaign is past the half-way point and can boast a proud home record of having not lost at Finnair Stadium since August 2010 in the Veikkausliga.

This time last year in the same competition the Finnish champions put 10 past Bangor City without reply and last month walloped Icelandic title winners KR Reykjavík 7-0.

The wheels have started to come off in recent weeks and it needed a goal on 82 minutes from Mika Vayrynen to salvage a 3-3 draw against VPS last time out. This followed a 1-0 defeat away to Honka in which Antti Muurinen’s men were reduced to nine men on a day to forget.

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