Anderlecht veteran defender Deschacht relishing Celtic clash after 14 year wait
Anderlecht veteran Olivier Deschacht still cherishes his first meeting with Celtic but admits his side's current line-up is a shadow of the team which beat the Hoops back in 2003.
Defender Deschacht, 36, recorded his first ever Champions League win when the Belgian outfit saw off Martin O'Neill's side 14 years ago.
The Brussels side had the likes of Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany in their ranks back then and battled to a 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour.
But Deschacht confessed the struggling Anderlecht crop Brendan Rodgers' Parkhead men will face on Wednesday night would be no match for his former team-mates.
He said: "My best memory was in the home game against Celtic back in 2003. It was my first victory in the Champions League and against an excellent Glasgow Celtic side.
"They had Henrik Larsson up front at that time and he was one of the best forwards of that moment.
"We had to play with 10 men for a long time after Glen De Boeck was given a red card in the first half but we got the win and for that reason it's my favourite memory.
"It's very difficult to compare that period with today, though.
"It's more than 10 years since that game but I think our side was better back then.
"We had more balance at that time. We had a big guy in Yves Vanderhaeghe in midfield and Vincent Kompany at the back. We also had Aruna Dindane.
"Everyone was very fit in that side but now there's a bit less balance because of all the injuries we have and some players are still looking for their best form.
"That can change quickly, though. You sometimes need a game like tomorrow as it can help you work out these problems."
Caretaker coach Nicolas Frutos will be in the dug-out for the all-important showdown at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium after former boss Rene Weiler was axed last week.
And he knows victory will give his side the edge as they look to book a Europa League ticket by finishing third behind Group F big guns Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich.
"Of course we are favourites because we are at home," he said. "If Celtic were at home in Glasgow they would be the favourites.
"Both teams know they can get points in this game, though.
"Celtic play a very good collective game. They are physical but I wouldn't say their style is 100 per cent Scottish like it was before. They are still physical but they have quality players like Patrick Roberts and the captain (Scott Brown), who has been there forever.
"They have a good mix of experienced players and have speed up front. They play a modern type of game with physical force and organisation at the back. They will work hard and so will we.
"Of course we know this game and the one in Glasgow will be key to deciding who finishes third.
"But we also know that the Champions League involves six finals and we have to perform to our best in each of them.