Deila hopes lessons have been learned

From Ronnie Esplin, Press Association Sport, in Maribor Ronny Deila wants his Celtic side to use the chastening experience of defeat to Legia Warsaw to take advantage of their Champions League reprieve.

The Polish club had beaten the Hoops 6-1 on aggregate in the third qualifier but were effectively dumped out of the competition by UEFA for bringing on a player who should have been suspended in the second leg at Murrayfield.

Legia failed in their appeal to European football's governing body and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving Celtic to face Maribor with the first leg in Slovenia tonight.

Deila is hoping some harsh lessons learned against Legia and the confidence from his side's 6-1 thrashing of Dundee United at Parkhead on Saturday, will bring tangible improvements on the European front.

He said: We were disappointed against Legia but now we get another chance and we have to show that we have learned from those games.

It was a tough experience but an important experience I hope and we will take those things into the game tonight.

The players look more fit, quicker, sharper in the passing and pressing so I am sure we will get a better performance than we had in Legia.

We know what we are capable of when we are at our best and you saw that at the weekend.''

However, while Deila is looking to take advantage of the second bite at the European cherry, he is wary of accepting the mantle of favourites in this tie.

He said: We are used to being favourites and everyone we meet say we are the favourites but we are after a good performance and we will see tomorrow who is the best team.

And we have to do it over two legs as well. It is not only 90 minutes, it is 180.

I think it will be close and I hope we show ourselves to be the best side.''