Nabil Fekir offers Celtic assessment as Real Betis star targets Europa League glory on home soil

The attacking midfielder is in confident mood ahead of the group opener on Thursday night in Seville.

Real Betis star Nabil Fekir feels his side have been handed a "good group" as they gear up to face Celtic on Thursday.

The Europa League proper gets under way this week, with the Parkhead club facing a daunting trip to Spain.

After a summer of change under Ange Postecoglou, the clash in Andalusia will be a barometer of how far Celtic have come.

With Bayer Leverkusen and Hungarian champions Ferencvaros also in the group it's a daunting proposition, but Betis' star man is confident the Spaniards will progress.

Fekir told UEFA's website: "When you are a player, you want to participate in these competitions. This year we are lucky to be able to participate and I hope we will have a good tournament.

"It's a good group. I think the most important thing is that we focus on ourselves because we are a strong team and if we get it right I have no doubt that everything will be fine."

The Frenchman was then quizzed on the venue for the final of the competition, with the showpiece game at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Fekir replied: "Oh, is it in Seville again this year? I believe the Champions League final was in Seville last year, right?

"It would be great if we could do it (reach the final). There is still a long way to go, there are a lot of matches to be won, but it would be good to play it here.