Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano says he is wary of the threat Celtic will pose when they meet in Italy tonight in the Europa League.
The Rossoblu are not in good form having won just one of their past nine Serie A games.
However, they have fared better in Europe, losing just once to sit 13th in the table, 11 spots above Celtic, who occupy the final play-off spot.
"We have to focus only on the game and this competition without anything else that could impact our performance," Italiano said.
"We need to protect our position and ideally get more points. We want a top eight-place but at least make the play-off.
"We will need to be as good as we were in the other European games this season and maybe even more.
"Celtic is a tough team even though they're not going through their best moment. The won against Feyenoord. If you don't pay attention they can give you problems."
Italiano led Bologna to their first major silverware in over five decades when they beat AC Milan to lift the Coppa Italia last season, but they have struggled for form this campaign which continued with Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by lowly Fiorentina.
"We got it wrong against Fiorentina," he said.
"On Thursday we have a great chance to do well, we have to put in a great performance because that's what the opponent requires. Total concentration.
"We studied some of their games with Martin O'Neill and the system they play is similar to how Fiorentina play. A 4-3-3, their midfielders are very fast.
"We want to get through in any way possible and we could potentially do something big for the rest of the season."
