The Rapid Vienna fans will undoubtedly give Celtic a warm reception in Austria
By Liam McLeod BBC Scotland in Vienna
When the Europa League draw was made, Rapid Vienna moved quickly to switch their home tie with Celtic to the national stadium, such was the clamour generated by the fixture.
In early September, the Austrians said they had received 100,000 ticket requests for the final qualifying match in Group C.
With animosity from the infamous clash between the sides in the European Cup Winners' Cup of 1984/85 still brimming in some quarters, much was expected from the rematch.
But instead of fireworks at the Ernst Happel Stadium, site of the Euro 2008 final, we will have a damp squib, with neither side able to progress in the tournament.
It is fair to say the conclusion to Scottish football's annus horribilis in Europe does not deserve the fairytale setting provided by a wintry Vienna.
The Austrian capital sparkles at this festive time of year, in sharp contrast to the drab displays of our representatives on the continent.
Celtic supporters arrive in this winter wonderland to conclude one of the most depressing Euro campaigns from Scottish teams in living memory.
And to think in this minus degree temperature with the snow beginning to fall outside it all began in balmy-July with half the Scottish Premier League preparing to dust down their passports.
Motherwell got the ball rolling against Welsh side Llanelli so early, the ink on Jim Gannon's contract hadn't dried.
They would go on to reach the third qualifying round before succumbing to Romania's Steuau Bucharest.
Falkirk and Aberdeen's involvement would have been missed if you blinked with Lichtenstein's Vaduz taking care of Eddie May's Bairns.
The Dons - just two seasons on from reaching the Uefa Cup knockout phase - left new manager Mark McGhee claiming he had gone from "legend to idiot" at the club he helped to two European honours as a player, as Czech's Sigma Olomouc demolished his makeshift side.
Hearts then melted in the searing heat of Zagreb in late August, although some pride was restored against Dinamo in the Tynecastle return.
Celtic failed to reach the Champions League - in a grim glimpse at how difficult future involvement in that competition will be without automatic qualification.
Following a good win against Dinamo Moscow, Arsenal were way too strong for Tony Mowbray's team.
Celtic drew 1-1 with Rapid Vienna in the first leg in Glasgow
And all that was before the disappointing involvement of the Old Firm in the group stages of Uefa's two competitions.
Thursday's clash at the Ernst Happel Stadium is unlikely to provide any more than a box to tick for Celtic and indeed their opponents.
But in football, there is always something to take from a match.
Peter Pacult's home side are looking for a sixth win in Europe this season that would surpass their previous best of five.
Following match-day one in the Europa League, things were looking good for last season's Austrian runners-up.
Having eliminated Aston Villa in the qualifiers, Hamburg were trounced 3-0 and a 1-1 draw earned in Glasgow.
But back-to-back heavy losses to surprise package Hapoel Tel Aviv dampened the optimism before Hamburg's 2-0 revenge eventually sent Rapid out.
Domestically, both teams have been going well recently.
Rapid are sitting two points clear of cash-rich Red Bull Salzburg at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga and have lost just once in 18 outings as they prepare to take their winter break.
Since losing to Dundee United, Celtic have won four on the bounce - scoring 11 goals in the process.
For Mowbray, the fixture is more of a nuisance than anything else, although it will allow him to put some fringe players in the shop window.
To paraphrase Midge Ure's Ultravox classic Vienna; This game means nothing… but at least the players and fans can do some late shopping at the Christmas markets.
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