Celtic's opponents Shakhter Karagandy 'slaughter a sheep before match'

Celtic's opponents Shakhter Karagandy have reportedly sacrificed a sheep ahead of their Champions League playoff tie against Celtic.

The Kazakhstan-based club will take on the Scottish champions on home turf this evening in the first leg of the clash.

Before the match, a black sheep was slaughtered and carried out onto the pitch in a cart in a bid to bring good fortune ahead of the match.

"We are just observing a tradition," coach Viktor Kumykov told the club's official website, according to the Daily Mail.

"The guys decided that being in the playoff is a new level and we are not going to violate this tradition."

A cleric from the local mosque is said to have overseen the sacrifice.