Preview: Celtic vs. Malmo

Celtic can take a step closer to the Champions League group stage on Wednesday when they host Malmo for the first leg of their qualifying playoff.

The Hoops saw off Qarabag FK in the last round, while Swedish champions Malmo overcame Red Bull Salzburg.

Celtic

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Scottish champions Celtic reached the Champions League qualifying playoffs by the skin of their teeth thanks to a narrow two-legged victory over Qarabag FK in the last round.

Ronny Deila's side beat the Azerbaijanis 1-0 on aggregate, with Dedryck Boyata's late goal in the first leg at Celtic Park making the difference.

Celtic are unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership this season after four games, with 10 points taken from a possible 12.

Their latest outing saw them earn a 4-2 triumph at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the weekend. Stuart Armstrong scored two goals for the hosts, while Mikael Lustig and Leigh Griffiths also got on the scoresheet.

Deila claimed after the match that his team's performance was the best that he had seen "for a long time".

Celtic have found their Champions League qualifying campaign tough in recent weeks, but they will be eager to gain a first-leg advantage against Malmo. Failure to do so could see their dreams of reaching the group stage suffer an extremely damaging blow.

Recent form: WWWD Recent form (all competitions): WWDWDW

Malmo

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Swedish champions Malmo secured their place in the Champions League qualifying playoff in dramatic fashion by overcoming Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on aggregate.

Age Hareide's men were beaten 2-0 in the first leg, but a 3-0 triumph on home turf in the return tie saw them progress.

Despite finishing last season at the top of their domestic table, Malmo are struggling to recapture that form this term.

They currently sit in fifth place in the standings having taken 37 points from 20 games. However, they are on a five-match unbeaten run in the league and a three-game winning streak in all competitions.

Celtic will be keen to keep an eye on strikers Markus Rosenberg and Jo Inge Berget, who have seven goals each so far this season.

Malmo's claim to fame in European competition is being beaten by Nottingham Forest in the 1979 European Cup final. They were knocked out in the group stage of last season's competition after losing five of their six games.

Recent form: DWLW Recent form (all competitions): WDLWWW

Team News

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Nadir Ciftci is expected to return to the Celtic lineup after continuing his domestic ban against Inverness.

Charlie Mulgrew could also be back in the starting XI following a substitute appearance on the weekend.

Ghanaian midfielder Enoch Kofi Adu is suspended for the visitors after getting sent off in their last European outing.

Celtic possible starting lineup: Gordon; Mulgrew, Boyata, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Bitton, Brown; Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Griffiths; Ciftci

Malmo possible starting lineup: Wiland; Tinnerholm, Arnason, Bengtsson, Yotun; Rodic, Lewicki, Carvalho, Berget; Djurdic, Rosenberg

Head To Head

This will be the first time that the two clubs have faced each other.

© Sports Mole / SM

We say: Celtic 1-0 Malmo

Celtic have made hard work of their Champions League qualifying campaign so far and it is not likely to get any easier when Malmo roll into town. The Swedes will be the stiffest opposition that the Scottish champions have faced so far. It is likely to be a cagey affair, so expect the odd goal to settle it. However, Celtic should have enough on home soil to gain the advantage in the tie.