Neil Lennon
Neil Lennon. REUTERS REUTERS

Celtic will open their Europa League campaign away at Atletico Madrid on Thursday, after UEFA reinstated the Scottish club.

Neil Lennon's side replaced Sion after the Swiss club used ineligible players during their 3-1 aggregate win over Celtic earlier this month.

The Buoys have won five of their six matches in the SPL this season but face their first real test of the season away to Atletico.

Scott Brown and Anthony Stokes are both absent for the trip to the Vicente Calderon, with Emilio Izaguirre out with an ankle injury.

Defenders Badr El-Kaddouri (cup-tied) and Daniel Majstorovic (suspended) are also ruled out.

Former Arsenal midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes believes a victory against Celtic will set Atletico on the way to repeating their 2010 tournament win.

"It would be great to repeat that joy and happiness we felt within the dressing-room on the night we won the trophy," Reyes told BBC Sport.

"It was just fantastic. It is a very special competition. The games are seen all over Europe, it is a very exciting competition to play in and it is a great feeling to win it."

Summer signing Radamel Falcao is expected to start following his transfer from Porto, while on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is likely to keep his place between the sticks.

Prediction Atletico Madrid 3 - 0 Celtic