Celtic’s biggest fear is that they will rue, to the tune of millions of pounds, the failure to see off Malmo during their dominant first-half spell at Parkhead last week.
The Swedes’ recovery illustrated Celtic’s shortcomings in concentration and defence. What came before had highlighted the profligacy which will be punished against overseas opposition but Celtic, should they progress, will surely strengthen.
Malmo welcome back their captain, Markus Rosenberg. Should Mikael Lustig fail to recover from a hamstring injury, there would be concern about the potential of Efe Ambrose as a weak link in Celtic’s right-back area.
The stakes are high, more so for Ronny Deila as he seeks to provide Celtic’s supporters with Champions League football once again, than his fellow Norwegian, Age Hareide. Celtic’s followers enjoy the Europa League but nights at the top table of European football have defined the club in so many ways, for so many years.
Malmo 4-4-2: Wiland; Tinnerholm, Arnason, Bengtsson, Yotún; Rodic, Adu, Lewicki, Berget; Djurdjic, Rosenberg.
Celtic 4-2-3-1 Gordon; Ambrose, Van Dijk, Boyata, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Forrest, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths.
Referee Milorad Mazic (Srb).
