CELTIC have at least 90 minutes to rescue their European campaign in the Arctic Circle this evening.
The Hoops stumbled in the first leg of their Europa Conference League encounter against Bodo/Glimt who proved to be clinical and fortunate at Parkhead, a lethal combination.
Their first two goals in the 3-1 triumph were worked through the rearguard to leave scorers Runar Espejord and Amahl Pellegrino with just the exposed Joe Hart to beat. The third, only moments after Daizen Maeda had pulled one back with a neat glancing header, was lucky when Callum McGregor deflected a drive from outside the box that looped over the helpless keeper high into the net.
In the midst of some treacherous conditions on a plastic surface in sub-zero temperatures, Ange Postecoglou is planning to do to the Norwegians what they did to his side in Glasgow.
CZECH IT OUT…Kyogo Furuhashi races away after netting his first goal for Celtic against FK Jablonec on the team’s way to a 4-2 win in the Czech Republic in August last year.
Celtic have scored four goals in the Czech Republic, three in Spain and Hungary and two in Germany on their European travels this season and they will continue with their adventurous outlook in Norway.
Asked if he would set up his team more conservatively on this occasion, Postecoglou replied with a smile: “No, because that would be changing, which is what I said we don’t do.”
So, there is every chance Giorgos Giakoumakis, hat-trick hero in the 3-2 victory over Dundee at the weekend, will again lead the line and he will have back-up in the shape of Liel Abada, Filipe Jota and Maeda who have all proved they know the route to goal since arriving at the club.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Joe Hart, Scott Bain, Anthony Ralston, Josip Juranovic, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Christopher Jullien, Greg Taylor, Liam Scales, Callum McGregor, Tom Rogic, Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate, Nir Bitton, James McCarthy, Liel Abada, James Forrest, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda, Albian Ajeti and Filipe Jota.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Bodo/Glimt v Celtic this evening – only in your champion CQN.
