Celtic have been urged to show composure at the Metropolitano tonight as they take on Atletico Madrid in their fourth Champions League match this season.

Gordon Strachan has warned his former side to be extra wary of the La Liga giants' tendency to lean about the 'dark arts' as they aim to better the draw they got at Parkhead a fortnight ago.

Atletico secured a 2-2 draw last time out in Glasgow, but will now welcome Brendan Rodgers' side to the Spanish capital this evening.

Celtic know they have to take something from the game to realistically have any chance of playing European football after Christmas.

And while they will need to be positive at stages in the match, Strachan has told the players at his old club to be cautious, especially given Atletico lost domestically at the weekend.

The ex-Scotland boss told ICE36: "The horrible thing about this game is that Atletico were beaten at the weekend in La Liga.

"They don’t often lose two games in a row – they will want to respond. They are a team that are masters of the dark arts. Beelzebub!

"Even at the end of the Celtic match where all their players just walked off – they’re the embodiment of their manager.

"Don’t rush. I don’t think that they need to make any drastic changes to how they would approach this game and, sometimes, if you make too many changes as a manager in terms of tactics or personnel, players get spooked.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou backs refs as he reiterates Spurs beliefs

"You don’t want to create doubts in the players’ minds where they start to think that the manager doesn’t trust them to play their normal game – I’ve done that before as a manager in Europe.

"You then realise, actually, if we play our game, on occasions the opponent isn’t that good and that gives everyone even more confidence because you played the game on your terms. It’s like standing up to a bully at school.

"You have to put your own mark on it – sometimes you’ll have to take a couple of hits!"