Celtic beat Rosenborg and RB Leipzig at home in the group stage

Celtic will be in a "really strong position" when they face Valencia in the Europa League, believes Brendan Rodgers.

The Scottish champions were drawn to face the La Liga side in the last 32 after finishing second in their group behind Salzburg.

And the Celtic boss is hoping his side go one step further than last season when the clubs meet in February.

"It's a game we'll be excited by," he said.

"By the time that period comes round we will have had the mid-season break which will be so important to us.

"Along with that hopefully the return of injuries by then and adding to the squad. By the time the games comes in February we would like to think we'll be in a really strong position."

While Celtic have not faced Valencia since 2001 - when the Spaniards put the Scots out of the Uefa Cup on penalties - Rodgers is relishing the prospect of going up against a club he studied in his early coaching career.

The Parkhead manager was last there as part of the Chelsea coaching staff in 2007 and knows that despite Valencia's current lowly position of 14th in the table, his side will face a formidable challenge.

"When I was a young coach they were one of the teams I travelled to study," he said.

"They are one of the Spanish clubs with a top-to-tail philosophy where the young players come through from the base of the academy right through to the first team. They have a wonderful history of that.

"It's been a difficult season for them but over the last few years it's been a difficult period for Valencia. I saw them this season against Manchester United and at Old Trafford I thought they played very, very well. A typical Spanish team, technically very good.

"We have the first leg at home in that game and we would like to take some sort of advantage into the second leg. But they are a very good side with some really good players."

The first leg is on 14 February, with the return game at the Mestalla Stadium seven days later.

Valencia, Uefa Cup winners in 2004, were seeded for the draw after finishing third in their Champions League group, behind Juventus and Manchester United.

Celtic were beaten by Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the last 32 stage last season.