The Celtic Women’s team face the toughest of tests in their first ever UEFA Champions League match as they take on top Spanish side, Levante.

For Celtic’s Spanish manager, it’s an opportunity for the Hoops squad to test themselves against some of Europe’s top players. And the match on August 18 is one that Fran Alonso and his players are looking forward to.

Speaking exclusively to the official Celtic website, the Celtic boss said: “It’s a very tough draw. We’ve never faced a team like Levante before. They are the strongest team we’re going to face, and they finished third in the Spanish league last season. They have players like Alba Redondo, who is a Spanish international player.

“From all of the teams we could have got, for me, Levante are one of the strongest, but it’s exciting and it’s a great experience for us. And regardless of whether we win or lose, we will play either Rosenborg or Minsk in our other game, which is another game for us and more European experience.

'For me, this is why I came to Celtic – to get to the Champions League and play in Europe.'

“If we want to get the level we want to be at, we have to play these games and get these experiences, hopefully with a good result, but we know it will be very difficult because Levante are a very good team. But we will make it very difficult for them and, mentally, we showed last season that we’re very strong.”

The format of the competition sees four teams drawn in each group, which will be played as two semi-finals – the other two teams in Celtic’s group are FC Minsk of Belarus and Rosenborg of Norway – and the winners of both semi-finals will meet in a final match to determine who progresses to the next stage. The two losing semi-finalists will play a third-place play-off game.

The semi-finals are scheduled for August 18, with the final and third-place matches taking place three days later. The location of the matches has still to be decided, but all the group games will be hosted by one of the four teams in the group.

And the fact that Celtic will be taking on a team from his own country just makes it even more special for Fran Alonso.

“For me, it’s great to play against a Spanish side and I love the way they work,” he said. “Tactically, they are absolutely brilliant, they are very knowledgeable – players and coaches – so it’s always a huge battle.

“But that’s what football is about for me – it’s about development and growing, and I know I can grow as a coach playing against a top Spanish side like Levante, and that will be the same for the players."

Fran Alonso: Levante will be a tough Champions League debut for Celtic