Malmö vs Celtic, 19.45 Tuesday 25th August, BT Sport Europe

Must say i havent been this nervous ever before a play off game- losing that goal late makes it squeaky * time. However i think it boils down to this, we are 1 game away from the champions league and all we have to do is avoid defeat. We are taking a lead to malmo so its now about getting the job done. As for the team i think ronny will go with the same team barring lustig if hes injured that played last week. I would go like this however:

Gordon

Janko
Boyata
Van Dijk
Izzaguirre

Brown
Bitton

Forrest (LM)
Johansen
GMS (RM)

Griffiths

 

Although I like Janko, I'd be a little concerned seeing him play at right-back tomorrow night. Berget was their outball last week, and Lustig kept him at bay due to his ability in the air.

The worry is that neither Janko or Ambrose are particularly powerful in the air. Though it's risky to break up a defensive partnership, I wouldn't be against seeing Boyata moved out to right-back, where he has played before.

 

I'm feeling confident now. Immediately after their second away goal I was fiercely negative. We are a better side. We can absolutely do a shut up shop hit on the break job against this mob - we've done it to better teams - and we have pace to hurt them. I predict Celtic to win the game by a goal, though a 1-1 draw is more likely I guess.


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Can Mulgrew play RB? At this point I would trust even Zaliuska or Bangura in that role before Ambrose.

 

Boyata RB and then Mulgrew CB? Sounds like a good plan indeed.

 

Gordon

Boyata Van Dijk Mulgrew Izzy

Bitton Brown

Forrest Johansen Armstrong

Griffiths​

That's what I'd go for if Lustig doesn't make it. If Forrest can't last the 90 minutes, replace him with Janko.

 

It would be crazy to play someone who hasn't played right back in such an important game. There's a reason Deila played Janko in that position on Saturday. If Lustig can't play, I'm pretty sure Janko will start as RB. Also to split up Boyata and Van Dijk would not be a good idea.

 

He's played there before, not for us but it'd be better than putting Ambrose there. Think it's pretty clear from Ronny's comments after the game it won't be Janko though.

 

Agreed. Mulgrew hasn't played in at CB regularly for ages now. It's not the time to be throwing him in at the deep end. Lustig must play if fit, if not Janko - with explicit instructions to the RM not to leave him detached.

 

Still confident as * for this game. Weird cos I'm usually a bag of nerves for these games, but just got that gut feeling we're gonna go over there and play them of the park, with Broony roaring in the players faces again \o/

Can't * wait!

 

That's what I like to read, a bit of positivity . Think a lot of people are forgetting that we are going over there with a goal advantage

 

This would also be a good idea as Malmo had a game plan to allow Boyata to come out with the ball as they knew he couldnt do that well. So if we had both mulgrew and van dijk being very good at coming out from the back with the ball it may be the way forward woth boyata to combat Bergets aerial threat at back post

 

And you have Bitton, Boyata, Van Dijk and Mulgrew to attack the ball at corners. That's a lot to handle in the one team.

 

On the train to Dublin, flight to Copenhagen at 6:30pm.
Mon the Hoops!

 

Quite happy with that, Forrest doesn't like players overlapping him anyway. Just sit in behind and be solid, offer an outball and let Forrest be right on top of the full back.

He also offers a goal threat at set pieces though, so going forward that is a big plus, even if it's not open play.

 

I think this one is going right to the wire. I can just see all those balls being lumped into our box in the final few minutes. Early goal and 2 v 0 please celtic. I want fingernails left after this.

 

John Collins speaking to the media at @GLA_Airport ahead of the #UCL clash with Malmo: "We are looking forward to it, a big match."


JC: "Of course there is belief there. We are creating chances, we are scoring goals and in very good form."


JC on Mikael Lustig: "He's travelling, made a lot of progress over last few days. Will give him up to the last minute - 50/50"

JC on Virgil van Dijk amid recent speculation: "Virgil 100 per cent ready to play. Terrific last week in first leg."

JC: "Hopeful he will be here long term, most important he is ready for tomorrow. A huge player for us, he'll be ready."


JC: "Everybody knows of financial rewards from qualification but I'm thinking about being involved in the biggest tournament.


JC on Malmo comments after first leg: "Doesn't bother me one little bit, about performing on the pitch & preparing for match."


JC: "It's exciting, where we want to be. Half time, 3-2 up and we are in the driving seat."


JC: "We'll try and control the game with the ball, try and go forward and create chances and defend as a unit when we lose the ball.


JC on injury concerns apart from Mikael Lustig: "We have no real injury worries at the moment."

 

An early goal would really help settle the nerves in this one and subdue their fans. Griffiths and Forrest to start would help with this I think. Want to see the introduction of Commons at some point too, he's fantastic at winning free kicks especially when we need a breather.

Enjoy!

 

Malmö team tomorrow according to @fotbollskanal
Wiland
Tinnerholm, Arnason, Bengtsson, Yotun
Rodic, Lewicki, Adu, Berget
Rosenberg, Djurdjic