Celtic’s hopes of Champions League qualification hang by a thread as a stoppage-time goal by Malmo’s Jo Inge Berget weakened the Scottish side’s hold over the contest. PHOTO: REUTERS
Ronny Deila’s Celtic take a 3-2 lead to Malmo in the second leg of their play-off while Monaco must turn around a 3-1 deficit when they welcome Spanish side Valencia to the principality.
Swedish champions Malmo struck a second away goal late on through Jo Inge Berget at Celtic Park last week.
“We are very irritated with the last thing that happened in the game. But we have to move on and know that we are ahead and we are going to do this in Malmo,” said Deila. “We are one goal ahead and they have to beat us in Malmo. It was an okay result, but it could have been a better result.”
Celtic suffered heartache at this stage last season when they were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate by Slovenian side NK Maribor.
But the 1967 winners — the first British club to win the European Cup — believe they have a better chance of progress this time.
“Of course we can beat Malmo away. But they have to beat us, and that is a positive thing,” added Deila. “They have to attack us and that can suit us.”
Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco, last season’s quarter-finalists, conceded a late third goal in the first leg when Sofiane Feghouli struck for the La Liga side.
Only Jeremy Toulalan, Danijel Subasic and Wallace retained their places for the 1-1 Ligue 1 draw against Toulouse on Saturday with Jardim making eight changes from the defeat at the Mestalla.
Portuguese playmaker Joao Moutinho is still sidelined for Monaco while Helder Costa and Aymen Abdennour are also unavailable, but 2004 runners-up Monaco are otherwise at full strength.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.
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