When Rogic met Neymar
Australia midfielder Tom Rogic may not have particularly fond memories of Neymar, having been on the receiving end of 25 goals scored by teams containing the Brazilian star over the past four years.
Celtic may have dodged another European examination against Barcelona in Friday morning's UEFA Champions League draw, but the Scottish champion can't seem to get away from Neymar, having been grouped with the Brazilian's new club PSG, along with Bayern Munich and Anderlecht.
It's another tough outcome for Brendan Rodgers's domestically dominant team, and for Socceroos star Tom Rogic in particular, it's the latest instalment in a series of demoralising clashes against the 25 year-old attacking star.
Rogic got his first glimpse of Neymar in September 2013 at international level. And from where the Australian sat for 70 minutes of their friendly, it wasn't pretty. By the time Rogic was shaking Brett Holman's hand as he swapped places with him on the pitch, Brazil was four goals to the good and carving up a Socceroos defence in disarray.
Neymar, who jagged one in the 36th-minute, was leading the Australia defence on a merry dance and making the likes of striker Jo look good. The injection of Rogic did little to alter the course of the match as Brazil bagged two more to record a humiliating 6-0 win that would contribute to the sacking of then-Australia coach Holger Osieck just eight months out from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The Socceroos midfielder got his second good look at Neymar just a month later in Celtic's 1-0 UEFA Champions League loss to Barcelona. The Brazilian didn't get on the scoresheet, but he was directly involved in the moment that turned the match in the visitor's favour.
A tussle that was tight in scoreboard only - Barcelona having enjoyed an incredible 82 per cent possession - burst to life when Celtic captain Scott Brown saw red for a challenge on the Brazilian. With the captain gone and 15 minutes remaining, Cesc Fabregas headed his side into a match-winning lead.
Rogic was an unused substitute that night.
Two months later the Australian was left out of the squad for the match that arguably marked the moment Neymar arrived as a Barcelona player. Having been signed for $A71 million from Santos at the start of the season, Neymar had scored only four goals in his first 18 matches.
By the hour mark, he had almost matched that tally, with a hat-trick of goals to put his side 5-0 up. Barca went on to win 6-1 as Neymar gave a prophetic glimpse at what he is capable of at the highest level.
Rogic was involved in Celtic's next encounter with Barcelona - a 3-1 International Champions Cup loss - which Neymar missed. The Australian entered the pitch at halftime for the injured Nir Bitton.
The Australian could be forgiven for watching the next match between the teams from behind the gaps between clenched fingers placed over his eyes.
While it was Lionel Messi who enjoyed the limelight with a hat-trick in the Spanish side's 7-0 group stage demolition last September, Neymar managed to join the party with a 70th-minute strike to go with his four assists.
That brings us to November's group stage reverse match, with Celtic hosting its Spanish conqueror and Rogic getting his first start against Neymar.
Celtic came out on a mission to avoid further embarrassment, playing a high-tempo brand of aggressive football. It wasn't enough to prevail, as Barcelona ground out a 2-0 win that saw Brendan Rodgers's men eliminated from the competition.
This season Rogic and Celtic get another shot at Neymar, albeit a Neymar in imperious form.
