Celtic 1 – 3 Bodo/Glimt
Bodo/Glimt cruised to a 3-1 win at Celtic to hand the Norwegian champions the advantage heading into the second leg of their Europa Conference knockout play-off tie.
The visitors made an early breakthrough after a well-worked move was finished by Runar Espejord, before Amahl Pellegrino’s close-range strike doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half.
Despite Daizen Maeda’s glancing header giving Celtic hope of a comeback with 11 minutes to go, Bodo/Glimt soon restored their two-goal advantage thanks to Hugo Vetlesen’s deflected strike.
As a result, Kjetil Knutsen’s team now have one foot in the next round ahead of the return leg in Norway on February 24 as Celtic’s 17-game unbeaten run came to an end.
Celtic suffer European blow after rare loss
Celtic came up against opponents who arrived in Glasgow ready to play their hosts at their own game. Like Ange Postecoglou, visiting boss Knutsen started with three forwards supported by two attacking midfielders while his team were prepared to build from the back and press high up the park.
The visitors had not played a competitive game since December 12 and had lost players to Krasnodar, Lens, Hertha Berlin and Schalke since clinching their second consecutive Norwegian title.
However, they made a flying start and Joe Hart had already made saves before Espejord, a new signing from Heerenveen, slotted home inside seven minutes after some sharp passing around the edge of the Celtic box. Carl Starfelt could not get close enough to make the challenge as the forward netted from 12 yards.
Maeda had Celtic’s best two openings of the first half, just either side of the goal. The Japanese centre-forward opted to pass the first time when a shot looked on and he could not pick out Liel Abada with his square ball. Maeda mis-kicked from his next opportunity.
The visiting goalkeeper made simple saves from Jota’s speculative effort and Abada’s weak strike but Celtic were struggling to create clear-cut chances. Nothing was coming off for attacking midfielders Tom Rogic and Matt O’Riley while Maeda was not linking play.
The first half could have got worse for Celtic when the ball fell for the unmarked Vetlesen in the home box but the midfielder sliced wide.
Celtic came out after the break with a bit more impetus. Jota and Callum McGregor shot over from 20 yards and the latter played Maeda in behind but the forward shot against goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 55th minute following some poor Celtic defending. Ola Solbakken skinned Greg Taylor and delivered a low cross. Espejord’s flick left Josip Juranovic out of position and Pellegrino had time to stab past Hart from six yards.
Abada soon headed over from a good chance and Jota forced an acrobatic save but the visitors showed another side to their game with an organised defensive shape.
Celtic Park erupted with hope when Maeda headed home Juranovic’s near-post cross but the visitors regrouped with a post-goal huddle and soon restored their two-goal cushion when Vetlesen’s 25-yard strike hit off McGregor and looped over Hart.
Substitutes James Forrest and Reo Hatate could not make the most of late chances to reduce the deficit.
‘Bodo/Glimt thoroughly deserved to win’
Andy Walker on Sky Sports News:
“Bodo/Glimt thoroughly deserved to win this tie, they controlled the game from start to finish, got an early goal through Espejord, lovely one-touch football in and around the box.
“And then Pellegrino scored a second goal and when Celtic got one back with about 10 minutes to go from Maeda, you thought that might give them a lift.
“But they did not get any sort of a lift, they did not have time and it was very deflating to see Bodo/Glimt get a two-goal advantage almost immediately.
“And they thoroughly deserved their two-goal victory here.”
What’s next?
Celtic host Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday; kick-off 3pm. The second leg takes place on Thursday February 24 at the Aspmyra Stadion at 5.45pm.
