MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 08:40:19| >> :120:53692:53692:
[monks data]
Celtic logo
Champions League | Playoff Round
Aug 19, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Malmo

3-2

Griffiths (3', 61'), Bitton (10')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Inge Berget (52', 95')

Preview: Celtic vs. Malmo

Sports Mole looks ahead to the first leg of Celtic's Champions League qualifying playoff at home to Malmo.

Celtic can take a step closer to the Champions League group stage on Wednesday when they host Malmo for the first leg of their qualifying playoff.

The Hoops saw off Qarabag FK in the last round, while Swedish champions Malmo overcame Red Bull Salzburg.


Celtic

Gary Mackay-Steven of Celtic celebrates his goal during the Pre Season Friendly between Celtic and Real Sociedad at St Mirren Park on July 10th, 2015© Getty Images

Scottish champions Celtic reached the Champions League qualifying playoffs by the skin of their teeth thanks to a narrow two-legged victory over Qarabag FK in the last round.

Ronny Deila's side beat the Azerbaijanis 1-0 on aggregate, with Dedryck Boyata's late goal in the first leg at Celtic Park making the difference.

Celtic are unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership this season after four games, with 10 points taken from a possible 12.

Their latest outing saw them earn a 4-2 triumph at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the weekend. Stuart Armstrong scored two goals for the hosts, while Mikael Lustig and Leigh Griffiths also got on the scoresheet.

Deila claimed after the match that his team's performance was the best that he had seen "for a long time".

Celtic have found their Champions League qualifying campaign tough in recent weeks, but they will be eager to gain a first-leg advantage against Malmo. Failure to do so could see their dreams of reaching the group stage suffer an extremely damaging blow.

Recent form: WWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWDWDW


Malmo

Olympiakos' Pajtim Kasami (L) fights for the ball with Malmo's defender Anton Tinnerholm (R) during the UEFA Champions League Group A football match on December 9, 2014© Getty Images

Swedish champions Malmo secured their place in the Champions League qualifying playoff in dramatic fashion by overcoming Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on aggregate.

Age Hareide's men were beaten 2-0 in the first leg, but a 3-0 triumph on home turf in the return tie saw them progress.

Despite finishing last season at the top of their domestic table, Malmo are struggling to recapture that form this term.

They currently sit in fifth place in the standings having taken 37 points from 20 games. However, they are on a five-match unbeaten run in the league and a three-game winning streak in all competitions.

Celtic will be keen to keep an eye on strikers Markus Rosenberg and Jo Inge Berget, who have seven goals each so far this season.

Malmo's claim to fame in European competition is being beaten by Nottingham Forest in the 1979 European Cup final. They were knocked out in the group stage of last season's competition after losing five of their six games.

Recent form: DWLW
Recent form (all competitions): WDLWWW


Team News

Nadir Ciftci of Celtic makes his debut at the Pre Season Friendly between Celtic and Real Sociedad at St Mirren Park on July 10th, 2015© Getty Images

Nadir Ciftci is expected to return to the Celtic lineup after continuing his domestic ban against Inverness.

Charlie Mulgrew could also be back in the starting XI following a substitute appearance on the weekend.

Ghanaian midfielder Enoch Kofi Adu is suspended for the visitors after getting sent off in their last European outing.

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Mulgrew, Boyata, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Bitton, Brown; Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Griffiths; Ciftci

Malmo possible starting lineup:
Wiland; Tinnerholm, Arnason, Bengtsson, Yotun; Rodic, Lewicki, Carvalho, Berget; Djurdic, Rosenberg


Head To Head

This will be the first time that the two clubs have faced each other.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Celtic 1-0 Malmo

Celtic have made hard work of their Champions League qualifying campaign so far and it is not likely to get any easier when Malmo roll into town. The Swedes will be the stiffest opposition that the Scottish champions have faced so far. It is likely to be a cagey affair, so expect the odd goal to settle it. However, Celtic should have enough on home soil to gain the advantage in the tie.



ID:240075: cacheID:240075:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8818:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leigh Griffiths of Celtic controls the ball during the Scottish Premiership League Match between Celtic and Dundee United, at Celtic Park on August 16, 2014
Read Next:
Celtic hold on to victory over Inverness
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!