Atalanta vs Celtic Referee is an Unwelcome Familiar Face to Hoops Fans

UEFA have confirmed who will take charge of Celtic’s colossal Champions League match against Atalanta on Wednesday evening.

Bosnian and Herzegovinian official Irfan Peljto – a familiar face to Hoops fans – will referee the Game.

Peljto took charge of the Bhoys’ tie away to Feyenoord last season, famously sending off both Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm. The 40-year-old also gave a penalty against the Hoops on the night, in a Game which the hosts won 2-0.

The Travelling Celtic supporters will hope Peljto isn’t as card-happy on Wednesday as the Scottish Premiership champions look to avoid another heavy European scalp.

Peljto will be assisted by his fellow countrymen Senad Ibrisimbegovic and Davor Beljo midweek, with Antoni Bandic taking up fourth official duties.

The VAR officials – Sören Storks and Christian Dingert – are German.

If they are to take anything from Bergamo, Brendan Rodgers’ men must put in their best performance of the season to date.

How the manager sets his team up will be a key talking point because, in Dortmund, Rodgers’ high-pressing, expansive strategy caused an all too common collapse for Celtic away from home in Europe.

Things won’t get any easier against last season’s Europa League winners, but with Peljto in charge, keeping 11 men on the pitch will be a priority.