Good evening everyone and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Celtic's first-leg playoff clash with Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Champions League at Celtic Park.

Both sides are potentially just 180 minutes away from a spot in the all-important group stages, which can offer clubs a financial reprieve of up to £20m, as well as the chance to compete against Europe's household names.

Brendan Rodgers and his charges have not had the most straight forward of campaigns following their opening defeat to Lincoln Red Imps, but since turning that two-legged tie around, the Hoops looked fairly strong as they edged past Astana in the previous stage.

What is for certain is that tonight's opponents should prove a much sterner test for the Scottish club and they will do well to get past Barak Bakhar's resilient charges over the course of two games.

Be'er Sheva have been carving out their own special piece of history in the Israeli top-flight, as they claimed the league title by two points in order to earn their first domestic crown in 40 years last campaign.

That run to the title saw the club put together a 29-match unbeaten stretch in the league, which included 15 clean sheets - an effort that beat Barcelona's mammoth run of 23 games unbeaten on their way to the La Liga crown.

The club's defence has been a hallmark of their success over the last year, having conceded more than one goal only six times in the 49 matches they took part in during the 2015-16 season.

The Israeli outfit have already proven that they are certainly no pushovers in this competition too, given that they knocked out Greek side Olympiakos in the last round. That is the same Olympiakos side that won the Greek title last season by a 28-point margin and have adorned the Champions League for many years.

Team news is coming now...

CELTIC STARTING XI: Gordon; Lustig, Toure, O'Connell, Tierney, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Rogic, Sinclair, Griffiths

CELTIC SUBSTITUTES: Fasan, Bitton, Dembele, Christie, Janko, Sviatchenko, Henderson

HAPOEL BE'ER SHEVA STARTING XI: Goresh; Bitton, Hoban, Taha, Tzedek, Davidzada, Melikson, Radi, Ogu, Nwakaeme, Palhano Soares

HAPOEL BE'ER SHEVA SUBSTITUTES: Turgeman, Bar Buzaglo, Sahar, Brown, Ohayon, Shabtay, Haimov

As expected, the fixture has come a touch too soon for Celtic stars Erik Sviatchenko and Nir Bitton, although they have both made the bench and could have a part to play this evening. Rodgers have handed a European debut to new signing Scott Sinclair, who will aim to provide some creative support for Leigh Griffiths. Unfortunately for the hosts, Patrick Roberts hasn't quite recovered either and is nowhere to be seen.

The visiting side have had some difficult calls to make too. Elyaniv Barda, the team's captain and forward, is missing through injury, leaving Palhano Soares and Tony Nwakaeme to work together up top. They might just be looking to Ben Sahar from the bench should that combination not work out tonight.

It does seem a touch odd that Sahar has been left on the bench tonight, especially given that he has worked tremendously well with Nwakaeme during Bakhar's stint as manager. The pair scored 22 goals between them for the club last season. Another frustrating absence is that of strong centre-back Miguel Vitor, who is missing through injury.

This is building up to be a really intriguing night of Champions League football and Celtic will be fully focused on ensuring that they do not give away a costly away goal this evening. Here's a couple of shots from the club's Twitter as we await the start of the contest:

🍀 The rest of the Bhoys follow as they head out for their warm-up at Paradise. #COYBIG (LA) pic.twitter.com/db3o71CwG9 — Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) August 17, 2016

Rodgers will perhaps be wary of the club's poor record away from home in recent years and he will be thinking that they will need a positive result to take back to Israel next week. The conditions aren't the easiest to play in and Be'er Sheva have a tremendous record in their newly-built stadium. The club are yet to lose a league match in the ground that they moved into last September.

Sinclair will have important role to play for the Bhoys tonight and he has already made an impact having scored in the win against Hearts on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership. Griffiths has been a key figure too during this qualification campaign after scoring three goals in the club's last three Champions League matches.

Rodgers has been speaking of Sheva's quality in their previous games and has seemingly called for patience in Celtic's approach tonight. Here's what he told BBC Sport:

"Each team is different. Astana were previously in the Champions League and showed that they were a very good side, so they have different qualities. Our game tomorrow is against the Israeli champions, they're used to winning. Watching the games against Olympiacos, they defended very well in the first game away and then at home they were able to qualify. We know they're very robust, very difficult to break down. In the game away, they played with a back five and that will require patience from our players and our supporters."

PREDICTION! We've got just under 15 minutes to go until kickoff now and it's time for me to make a prediction... This is going to be an extremely difficult tie for the home side, but that blooming partnership between Griffiths and Sinclair could prove to be very important. I don't see the Bhoys shutting out their opponents for the entire contest although they might just take a slender advantage into the second leg. I'm going for 2-1 Celtic.

Former Hoops boss Neil Lennon knows how difficult these qualifiers can be and he has had this to say about the challenge that lays ahead for Celtic, according to BBC Sport:

"The build-up is awful - it's just like a Celtic-Rangers game. But once the game's underway, it's great. They are awful to negotiate. You don't know who you're going to get, you don't know if the players are ready yet. I think the Celtic players are up to speed now, judging by the performances of late. Knowing you're going back in [to the group stage] and what it means to the club and all those big games to look forward to, it's special."

Moussa Dembele might have some sort of role to play before the game is over, and he has already impressed off the bench for the Scottish club. His stoppage-time penalty to progress beyond Astana will live long in the memory of many fans. Despite only being 20 years old, the forward has shown that he has the composure for the big moments.

Not long now as a huge rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone rings out around Celtic Park. These nights are special, if not a bit nerve-racking!

The Hoops will be aiming to get things going at the same pace as they produced in the early stages against Astana. A clean-sheet is pretty vital this evening, but Celtic will surely want some sort of lead to take on their travels too.

The players are currently lined up in the tunnel and are waiting on the officials to arrive. Celtic are in traditional green and white stripes, while the visitors don a red kit. Everyone looks very focused, especially skipper Scott Brown!

We're now out on the centre circle with the Champions League anthem ringing out around the ground. The players shake hands and it's almost time to go. Glasgow is bathed in sunlight too. What a night...

KICKOFF! Sheva get things moving from right to left in red. We're underway in Scotland!

A nice robust start as challenges go flying in from both sides in the middle of the pitch. Sheva break away with pace down the left flank, although Lustig is quick to react and Celtic clear the danger.

SAVE! The Bhoys get the ball down for the first time in the middle of the pitch as they aim to settle down with some possession. Brown moves forward and tries to play in Tierney, but he cannot get the better of Bitton. Celtic come back again as Brown collects on the edge of the area, where he forces a tremendous stop from Goresh, who is just about able to tip the ball wide of the target.

Some wonderful pressing almost conjures a chance for the home side again, this time as Forrest persistently presses to win the ball off Hoban, although his eventual cross into the box is tame and Hapoel are able to hoof away the danger.

It has been all Celtic in the past few minutes and they aim to push the pressure on Hapoel on the edge of the area. Sinclair soon slips in left-back Tierney, whose shot flies high and wide of the away goal without troubling Goresh.

The hosts have a lead and it comes at the perfect moment early on. Sinclair comes a touch short of the area before nipping in behind the defence to receive a cute long ball from Brown. The club's newcomer is soon clattered by keeper Goresh, with the ball spilling to Rogic just outside of the box. The midfielder keeps his cool and is able to slot home despite a retreating group of bodies on the Hapoel line.

YELLOW CARD! Amid all of the action, Hapoel keeper Goresh is given a yellow for protesting against his coming together with Sinclair. The stopper will have to be careful now...

Hapoel seek to hit back as soon as possible and they make some progress down the left flank with Taha, but his cross into the area is wayward and the hosts get the ball away without trouble.

CLOSE! Celtic's passing forward has been very slick early on and it is proving a bit too much for the visitors at the moment. Forrest is the architect this time as he spots the run of Griffiths, although the ball is slightly overhit and Goresh comes off his line to gather.

The Bhoys are now growing more confident by the second. Hapoel perhaps allow the hosts a bit too much time and space on the edge of the box, where Rogic tries his luck with a shot that is drilled safely into the grasp of Goresh.

Out of the blue Celtic almost put themselves into a spot of bother when Rogic brings down Odan inside the Celtic half. The free kick, however, is a poor one and Forrest is able to recover in time to get the ball away.

Rodgers and his men will be pleased with their work in the early stages of this fixture. The Hoops have played with real endeavour going forward and that much-talked-about nervousness doesn't seem to be prevalent here.

SHOT! The home side have a slight bit of pressure to deal with as Nwakaeme finds himself on the turn just shy of the area. The frontman is able to get his shot away, but Toure is there to block the effort before it tests the reach of Gordon in the Celtic goal.

CLOSE! Celtic bring some style down the left wing now as Tierney turns his man before chipping a cross to the back-post for Lustig, where Tada heads away.

Sheva give away a needless free kick over on the right, allowing Sinclair to have a pop from range. The ball is met by Toure in the middle of the box, where the centre-back can only head tamely wide.

CLOSE! Standout work from Bitton sees the full-back sell Tierney the dummy. The cross into the area is a wonderful one, although nobody in the Sheva ranks decides to gamble and the ball flashes across the face of goal and wide.

Sinclair has looked impressive on the ball when he has had it tonight, and this time he almost finds himself away unmarked after beating three defenders before Tzedek gets across to make an important tackle on the edge of the area.

YELLOW CARD! Sinclair has possession on the edge of the Hapoel box, but he is soon forced to concede a professional foul after giving the ball away carelessly to Ogu.

Celtic's press has been particularly impressive thus far. There have been moment when Hapoel look likely to break away, but the home side have been quick on the tackle and have been able to break up a number of potential forays forward rather quickly. Rodgers has certainly started to make a mark on this team.

CHANCE! A huge chance for Celtic to take a two-goal lead... Tierney produces a telling run down the left to beat his marker, before cutting a good ball across the face of goal. Sinclair is there to meet it, although he can't quite adjust his feet in time and instead produces a poor effort straight at Goresh.

There are glimmers of what this Celtic side might be in just a few more weeks. Some wonderful link-up play between Griffiths and Sinclair almost sees the latter break in behind before the new signing is declared offside despite what looked like a fine turn.

What a huge goal this could be in the context of this tie. It comes through some standout running from Sinclair, who drags his marker deep to allow Toure to break forward. The centre-back then finds his teammate, who then feeds Lustig out on the right channel, where the full-back lobs a smart cross into the box. As you might guess, Griffiths is there to produce a perfectly-timed run to meet the ball and guide his header beyond a helpless Goresh. Glasgow is alive with song...

Surely now all that matters is the clean-sheet, but Celtic still march forward in search of a third goal here. Lustig is the instigator again, but he is thwarted by a recovering Hoban, who has been all at sea at times this evening.

Griffiths has Tzedek's number as he breaks past the centre-back on the edge of the box, forcing the defender to concede a free kick in a dangerous area and a yellow card too. The Griffiths set-piece is absolutely spellbinding, as the forward bends his effort over the wall and into the near corner where he beats a stranded Goresh to make it 3-0.

What a memorable first half of football at Celtic Park. The Bhoys have been faultless so far and deservedly lead at the break. One particular highlight has been the hosts' forward play, where Forrest, Griffiths and Sinclair have produced standout performances.

Rodgers will be delighted with what he has seen in that first period. They surely have the upper-hand now heading to Israel next week, although Hapoel will know that an away goal could provide them with a vital lifeline ahead of the second leg.

The pace of the game seems to have surprised Sheva and Celtic have hardly given them a moment to breath. All that talk of their defensive record is looking a touch silly now. The visitors haven't provided the best account of themselves at the back.

Clinical is what this performance has been and you can rarely say that of a Celtic side in recent times. Regardless of the scoreline, this is still all to play for at the moment. Should Hapoel snatch an away goal the complexion of the contest could change entirely, while another few Celtic goals could just put them firmly in sight of the group stages.

KICKOFF! Celtic get things started again... More goals, or will this be a defensive shutdown from here on in?

Rogic appears as hungry as ever as he attempts to win the ball inside the Hapoel box. The midfielder is a touch too physical and allows Tzedek to win a clever free kick for his side.

More remarkable industry sees Celtic win a cheap free kick over on the right flank. Rogic sends the ball into the box, but the his cross is cleared away at the first attempt by Hoban.

Hapoel's brightest sparks have come from Bitton down the right and he hasn't given up just yet as he beats Tierney to deliver into the area. As has been the case with much of tonight, there's a lack of bodies in the box and O'Connell can clear the danger unchallenged.

Celtic's confidence is sky high at the minute and it translates with a speculative shot from Forrest, who sees his effort blocked away for a corner by Tzedek.

What has happened here? From the resulting corner Sheva break away through Lucio Maranhao, who gets the better of O'Connell to fire beyond Gordon at his near post. The keeper might have done better there to be honest. Then, as quick as you can blink, the away side get another vital away goal through Melikson, who breaks onto a loose rebound before flashing a wonderful finish under the Celtic stopper. This is outrageous...

SUBSTITUTION The atmosphere has changed slightly in the ground now and Rodgers takes no chances as Bitton comes on for McGregor, while Janko takes the place of Lustig.

What can Celtic do from here, then? Should they go for another goal while on home soil, or purely focus on shutting up shop at the back? The home side are clearly trying to clear their heads as they take some of the bite out of the contest with a spell of possession football.

It looks like the Hoops want another goal at the moment and Sheva don't seem to mind too much as they appear to sit a little deeper. No doubt that it is a ploy to setup a counter attack at some point. Celtic will need to be careful.

SUBSTITUTION: Hapoel make a change as striker Ben Sahar takes the place of Lucio Maranhao.

SUBSTITUTION: Rodgers makes a change now too, as Rogic is swapped for Moussa Dembele. Looks like the hosts want another goal then!

CLOSE! Tierney is given far too much space on the left and he is able to cut in towards the box. The full-back winds up his shot, which flashes just wide of Goresh's near post.

The gamble pays off! Griffiths turns in a smart corner, where substitute Bitton leaps highest to send the ball past the on-rushing Goresh. It looks like the header might take a slight flick off of Dembele, but it doesn't matter - that goal will be huge for Celtic's confidence!

SAVE! Wonderful work from Gordon, who reacts brilliantly to keep out a close-range header from Sahar. That would have been a huge annoyance should Hapoel have earned yet another away goal.

SHOT! Dembele is doing all he can to drag Celtic back into the ascendancy once more, this time as he beats his man before drilling an effort chance wide of Goresh's near post.

The visitors win a free kick in a dangerous position over on the left, which is thumped straight into the wall. There are huge appeals for handball, though there is nothing doing according to the referee.

Amazing scenes... Scott Brown miskicks his first effort just inside the Hapoel box after a major scramble, but he soon readjust himself to pull out a memorable volley that flashes beyond Goresh in an instant and gives Celtic a vital three-goal lead. What a cracker this game has been...

CLOSE! Almost another now for Celtic! Sinclair races beyond his marker and only has the keeper to beat, but Goresh pulls off a blinder to tip his effort wide at the far post.

Celtic are looking to shut down the hatches as we go into the final few minutes of this fixture. There will be four minutes of additional time.

Hapoel are not getting a sniff in these final moments as Rodgers applauds with firm hands from the sidelines. His substitutes have been brilliant tonight. Full credit to him for some really positive management.

What a fantastic match we've just witnessed. Celtic looked like throwing things away early in the second half, but Rodgers made some standout decisions to turn this game on its head once more. The Hoops looked remarkable in the final third and they will now feel confident of wrapping this up in Israel next week. That is going to be all from me tonight, thanks for joining us!