NOW that the initial excitement has subsided, the planning can start in earnest.

Neil Lennon doesn't know everything about Celtic's Champions League last-16 opponents Juventus, but feels that will all have changed by the time the first leg comes around in early February.

"We'll watch them, and watch them and watch them," said Lennon. "We've been looking at the fixtures and they should be pretty easy to cover, the Saturdays and Sundays. I want to get out there and look at them myself, home and away. The (Juventus) stadium seems to have suited them, because the atmosphere will be more intense than when I played there anyway."

The Northern Irishman can already list most of their players and their attributes, gushes about their ability to grind out wins while manager Antonio Conte was serving a touchline ban for failing to report match fixing, and watched awestruck as they swatted aside reigning champions Chelsea in the group stages – and there are some details he probably wouldn't want to know. Prior to a defeat by Inter, the club were unbeaten in 49 domestic matches and are in the midst of a similar 16-game run in European competition. Two late goals on Friday night from substitute striker Alessandro Matri against Cagliari allow them to go into the short Italian winter break with a comfortable advantage over the rest of Serie A.

Like Celtic, Juve are a young, resilient team being rebuilt at one of the historic names in world football by one of their feisty former midfielders, and look likely to be the side to beat in their country for years to come. "I think Italian teams, and their football, are going through a transitional phase," Lennon said. "Milan are struggling really. Inter have had their ups and downs. It might be Juve's turn to be the dominant force."

Veteran playmaker, Andrea Pirlo, has two Champions League titles, a World Cup win, and a Euro 2012 final on his CV. In 2005 and 2007, the Northern Irishman locked horns with Pirlo, dubbed l'architetto for club and country, when he played for AC Milan. On the first occasion Celtic lost in the San Siro after a Stanislav Varga goal had apparently earned an unlikely away point. In 2007 Celtic lost a last-16 decider to an extra-time goal from Kaka, putting Milan en route to eventual victory in the competition. Perhaps most remarkable is that Milan allowed Pirlo to leave.

"In 2007, it was more about Kaka, Seedorf and Inzaghi," said Lennon. "Pirlo just sat but they were an excellent side and when they beat us, they got a huge lift. I remember them playing Man United at the San Siro and beating them by three. They were awesome that night and Pirlo was instrumental."

Devising a plan for Pirlo is the priority. It is a role Scott Brown has been asked to fulfil in the past, and putting the Fifer in the 33-year-old's face certainly seems a better idea than Roy Hodgson's laissez- faire approach in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

"He is a wonderful footballer and has probably got better," said Lennon. "I thought he had a great Euros, was Italy's best player and was one of the players of the tournament. His passing with both feet is second to none. Set-pieces, free-kicks, corners: his delivery is excellent. If we are going to prevail, we will have to stop Pirlo playing."

With the Italians' tactics and mastery of defending unlikely to present Celtic with the set-piece opportunities afforded by Barcelona, in some ways this seems an even more daunting assignment.

But Celtic have not been shut out in any European away match all season. And they twice drew with Udinese, who at that point were jousting for the Serie A title, during last year's Europa League. Two of that Udinese side, Mauricio Isla and Kwadwo Asamoah, now play their football in Turin.

"Juve will be stronger than Udinese, but only because they're the champions," said Lennon. "They will be very difficult to break down and dangerous on the counter-attack. It will help the players knowing they've been to Italy and got a result in recent times. A year down the line I think we're in a better place, but Juventus will also be in a good frame of mind."

Celtic's personnel could change in the January transfer window, while Efe Ambrose may not play in the first leg, depending on Nigeria's progress in the Africa Cup of Nations.

"They have a great team and are a lot better than people think," said Ambrose. "They have a young team which is very hungry for success. But we are very hungry too. Juventus will have their tactics, and so will we, so let's see what happens."