Leigh Griffiths brace hands Celtic narrow advantage in Champions League playoff

A brace from Leigh Griffiths has fired Celtic to a 3-2 win over Malmo in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, although a late goal from former player Jo Inge Berget dampened the mood at full time at Celtic Park.

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The Bhoys took the lead in the third minute when Stefan Johansen collected the ball on the edge of the area and put a through-ball into the box for Leigh Griffiths to slot past Johan Wiland.

Celtic doubled their lead from a corner as Johansen was again the provider when he lifted the ball in from the right from a corner and Nir Bitton headed into the net from close range.

The visitors almost got a goal back when Vladmir Rodic latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and drove a low effort at goal, but Craig Gordon palmed the ball past the post.

Celtic came close again just before the break when Stuart Armstrong was allowed to cut inside down the left and rifle an effort towards the top corner, but his strike sailed inches wide of the target.

In the second half, Malmo got back into the game when they hit the home side on the counter down the left and a cross to the back post found former Bhoy Inge Berget, who slammed a volley past Gordon.

The visitors almost drew level as Nikola Djurdjic brought the ball forward and was afforded space and time to power an effort at goal, but Gordon showed strong hands to punch the ball clear.

Ronny Deila's men notched their third goal of the evening as Griffiths scored his second goal with a looping header over Wiland, which found the net with the aid of the post after Anton Tinnerholm had failed to clear the danger from a cross into the box.

The Swedish club upped the ante in the final minutes of the game as five minutes of stoppage time were added. Inge Berget haunted his former team again as he struck in the 95th minute with a powerful volley after Celtic had failed to clear their lines from a corner into the box.

The late goal leaves the tie in the balance as Malmo hold two away goals over the Bhoys heading into the second leg in Sweden next week.