Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the
Europa League clash between
Celtic and Molde at Aker Stadion.
Celtic are looking for their first win of the competition in their campaign. The Bhoys have drawn their opening two matches in Group A against Ajax and Fenerbahce, with both games ending 2-2. As a result,
Ronny Deila's men are second in the table behind Molde ahead of this evening's clash, although a win would propel them to the top.
Molde enjoyed a strong start to their campaign with a resounding 3-1 win over Fenerbahce in their trip to Turkey. The Norwegian side followed up the result with a 1-1 draw against Ajax to leave themselves in a strong position after their opening two matches of the group stage. Molde men know that a victory tonight would cement their place at the summit and put them within touching distance of the knockout phase.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with Celtic.
CELTIC STARTING XI: Gordon; Lustig, Ambrose, Boyata, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Commons, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths
Subs: Bailly, Blackett, Ciftci, Mackay-Steven, Rogic, McGregor, Tierney
MOLDE STARTING XI: Horvath; Linnes, Toivio, Forren, Rindaroy; Hussain, Singh, D Hestad; Elyounoussi, Kamara, Mostrom
Subs: Neydson, SemB Berge, Flo, E Hestad, Hoiland, Bakenga, Svendsen
Deila has made three changes to his starting lineup from his side's win over Motherwell at the weekend. Leigh Griffiths starts up front to replace Saturday's goalscorer Nadir Ciftci, while Stefan Johansen and Mikael Lustig also come back into the team to send Tyler Blackett and Tom Rogic down to the bench.
Celtic come into the match with a 4-3-3 formation which will see Griffiths lead the line down the middle, supported by Stuart Armstrong, Johansen and
Kris Commons. Nir Bitton and Scott Brown make up the midfield by sitting just in front of the back four, while Efe Ambrose and Dedryck Boyata anchor the heart of the defence.
Celtic are taking a look around the Aker Stadion ahead of kickoff. The stadium has a plastic pitch, which could cause issues for the visitors tonight.
The big news for Molde has been the return of former manager
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm. The ex-Manchester United striker enjoyed an impressive first spell with the club before leaving for Cardiff City 20 months ago, but his stint with the Welsh club proved to be unsuccessful. However, the Norwegian has returned to the fold following the sacking of Tor Ole Skullerud in August, and will take the reins from caretaker Erling Moe this evening.
© Getty Images
Solskjaer has made three changes to his side from their victory over Mjondalen at the weekend.
Mohamed Elyounoussi, Knut Rindaroy and Daniel Hestad all come into the lineup to replace Per Flo, Eirik Hestad and Sander Svendsen. The Norwegian has selected a 4-3-3 formation with a midfield trio of Hestad, Harmeet Singha and Etzatz Hussain, while
Ola Kamara, Mattias Mostrom and Elyounoussi lead the line in attack.
The Celtic players are starting to take to the pitch for their pre-match warm-ups.
Molde have a solid record at home this season and will provide an extremely tough challenge for the Bhoys this evening. The Norwegian club are unbeaten in their last eight matches at Aker Stadion, which has included 4-0 and 3-1 victories in their last two contests in the Tippeligaen.
Deila has conceded that Molde will receive a huge lift from having Solksjaer back in charge this evening.
"When you get a new manager in you get more energy and belief," Deila told reporters. "It's always like that. It was the same at the weekend [against Motherwell under new manager Mark McGhee]"
Celtic come into the match on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions. The Bhoys' last defeat came at the hands of Aberdeen on September 12. Their 1-0 victory over Motherwell lifted them back to the top of the Scottish Premiership following an intense start to their league campaign, and now Deila will have his side focused on moving to the summit of Group A.
Celtic will feel that they should be top of Group A already in the campaign, but they were unable to hold on to leads against Ajax and Fenerbahce in their opening two matches. The Bhoys held a 2-1 advantage at the Amsterdam ArenA before a late strike from Lasse Schone earned Frank de Boer's men a point, while they allowed a two-goal lead slip at Celtic Park to the Turkish team as a brace from Fernandao denied Deila's men victory.
The players are in the tunnel and we should be ready for action shortly.
The players are making their way out on to the pitch as we approach kickoff at Aker Stadion.
KICKOFF! We're underway in this Group A clash.
CHANCE! Armstrong raids into the box and sends a low ball across the face of goal. Griffiths makes a run to collect ahead of Linnes as the bal gets caught in the waterlogged turf, but he cannot get a shot away as Toivio and Forren manage to make the block. The forward tries to shoot on the rebound, but Linnes makes the tackle and an offside decision allows Molde to clear.
Heavy rain is causing problems for both sides in the early stages of the game as the ball is getting stopped in the turf on passes on the deck.
CHANCE! The visitor come close again as Johansen raids forward into the Molde half and sees the run of Commons into the box. The midfielder slides a through ball into his path, and although the ball gets caught in the turf, Forren is able to come across and make a last-ditch tackle to stop his strike.
GOAL! Molde 1-0 Celtic (Kamara)
The home side hit the Bhoys on the counter as Elyounoussi breaks down the left and sends a pass across to Kamara on the opposite flank. Kamara raids into the box unchallenged and fires a low effort towards the near post that beats Gordon. It was poor from Gordon as he allowed the ball to beat him at his near post.
The goal from Molde seems to have knocked Celtic out of their early rhythm, and the home side have taken control of proceedings.
Rindaroy raids down the left for Solskjaer's men and wins a corner for Toivio to take. The home side are upping the ante after a slow start to the match.
GOAL! Molde 2-0 Celtic (Forren)
Celtic clear the danger from the corner as Brown heads the ball back to Toivio, who sends it back into the box. The cross travels to the back post for Forren and he strikes the ball on the half-volley. The defender's effort slams into the ground and beats the outstretched hand of Gordon.
The Bhoys look completely shell-shocked by the two goals from the home side and are out of sync in their passing game. The pitch is not helping matters either as they are unable to string together a series to draw the Norwegian side out of their shape.
Forren somehow manages to escape a booking for a poor challenge on Johansen as the midfielder tried to break into the final third.
Celtic work the free kick close to the edge of the box, but the home side mass around Commons in numbers as he tries to thread the ball through to Commons and the home side break.
CHANCE! Elyounoussi speeds down the left flank and opts to cut back in on his right foot. The winger has support around him, but instead goes for the strike at goal. However, his effort sails harmlessly over the bar.
CHANCE! Griffiths collects a loose ball on the edge of the box and is allowed to turn by Toivio. The striker shoots at goal, but he doesn't quite have the aim to trouble Horvath.
Celtic have managed to establish a possession game after losing their rhythm following Forren's strike. However, they are yet to test Horvath in the Molde goal, which will concern Deila.
The Bhoys are knocking the ball well around in the midfield, but when it comes to the final third they cannot find the incisive pass needed to get through the Molde defensive line.
Celtic's half is summed up in one move as Armstrong collects a pass from Izzaguire and turns his man on the edge of the area. The winger skips past a challenge, but in doing so he collides with Commons and loses possession in the final third. Not the best half from Celtic's attacking players.
SHOT! Commons rifles a shot in anger from 25 yards, but Forren comes out of the line to make the block and divert the ball behind for a corner. Molde have been resilient since the third minute of the game when Griffiths almost found a way through.
The delivery from Armstrong from the set piece is poor and the home side clear the danger with ease. It's just not happening for Celtic in the final third.
CHANCE! Molde come close to taking 3-0 lead as Elyounoussi raids down the flank and he tries to send a cross for the run of Kamara in the box. The ball swerves in the air and looks to be creeping over Gordon at the near post, but the keeper gets back to turn it over the bar. Gordon's heart would have been in his mouth there.
HALF-TIME: Molde 2-0 Celtic
A poor first-half display from the Bhoys leaves them 2-0 down at the break. Celtic had a bright start as Leigh Griffiths should have put them ahea in the third minute, but he failed to find the target. Deila's men paid for their lack of clinical edge when Ola Kamara fired the home side in front as he capitalised on poor defending and keeping to beat Craig Gordon at his near post. The loose play at the back continued to allow
Vegard Forren to fire a half-volley into the net to double his side's lead as the Bhoys left him unmarked at the back post. Deila has a major task on his hand to get his team back into the match.
The players are back out for the second half at Aker Stadion.
RESTART! We're back underway in this Group A clash.
CHANCE! Space opens up for Bitton to drive forward into the Molde half of the pitch. The midfielder opts to shoot from distance, but he puts his strike wide of the target.
Rindaroy raids into space down the left after collecting a pass from Elyounoussi, and the left-back fires the ball across the face of goal for the run of Kamara. However, Ambrose reads the danger and puts the ball behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Johansen sends the ball into the path Bitton on the edge of the box, and Toivio races out to close down the midfielder. The defender does just enough to put Bitton off his strike as he puts the effort wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: Rinderoy comes off for the home side due to injury and Flo comes on to replace him.
GOAL! Molde 2-1 Celtic (Commons)
A goal out of nothing for Celtic as Commons brings them back into the game with a fine finish. The midfielder capitalises on a mistake from Linnes as he seizes on his stray pass. Commons shows his composure by faking the strike with his left foot and bringing the ball on to his right and lifting his effort over Horvath into the net. Game on!
GOAL! Molde 3-1 Celtic (Elyounoussi)
Incredible scenes as Molde restore their two-goal lead just seconds after Commons brought Celtic back into the game. Poor defending from the visitors allows Mostrom to raid down the right and send a low ball to the back post, where Elyounoussi drills the ball towards the near post. Once again, Gordon cannot do enough to keep the effort from going between his legs and finding the back of the net. Deila will be furious with his team for switching off.
Johansen gets brought down and the visitors win a free kick in a threatening position. Armstrong tries to release the run of Griffiths at the near post, but the forward is stopped in his tracks when he receives the ball by the offside flag.
CHANCE! Kamara has the chance to put the game beyond the reach of the Bhoys as he latches on to Linnes's cross from the right on the penalty spot. However, he cannot make good contact with his header and can only send his effort wide of the post.
CHANCE! Commons comes within inches of finding the net for the second time of the match when he unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Forren makes the block, but the ball spins dangerously towards the bottom corner, although fortunately for the home side it drifts just wide.
Izaguirre sends a cross into the box, but Forren clears the danger, only for Bitton to collect. The midfielder loops a ball to the back post for Lustig to head across goal for Griffiths. The striker brings the ball under control and is just about to pull the trigger before the whistle blows for a foul against Lustig.
CHANCE! Kamara should end the match as he he played in by a long ball over the top and gets the run ahead of Boyata and Ambrose. The striker bears down on goal and sends his low shot towards the bottom corner, but his effort goes inches wide of the post. That should have been the game-clincher for the home side.
Celtic are nearly cut open again as Flo is nearly played in inside the penalty area, but Ambrose just manages to get back and plays the ball to Gordon. The keeper takes a poor first touch and is forced out of his box to play the ball out play.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Mackay-Steven comes on for Armstrong for the Bhoys, while Kamara makes way for Hestad for Molde.
SUBSTITUTION: Commons is replaced by Ciftci, and the midfielder is not happy with his manager. His vents furiously on the the bench towards Deila as the Celtic supporters chant his name. Serious dissent from the 32-year-old.
Hestad and Elyounoussi link up in the penalty area and Hestad lines up a ball across the face of goal. The ball beats Ambrose and Boyata, but Elyounoussi does not react as it flashes past him two yards from the net.
Hestad is allowed to collect the ball on the edge of the box by Boyata and shoot at goal, but his effort proves to be tame and Gordon saves with ease. It was too easy for the forward on that occasion and that has been the tale of Celtic's night at the back.
CHANCE! Hussain is played through by Elyounoussi and he pokes the ball towards the bottom corner from close range, but Gordon sticks out a hand to push his effort behind. The scoreline could be out of hand had the home side been able to finish in the second half.
OFF THE BAR! Bitton had two efforts in the early stages of the second half, and he has come within inches of getting a goal back for his second as his strike from 25 yards crashes off the bar, with Horvath beaten.
Ciftci goes up to head Lustig's cross at goal, but he sees his effort drift inches past the post. The striker is frustrated to hear the whistle for foul, meaning the goal would not have counted anyway. The body language of the Celtic players is not great.
There will be four minutes of added time.
Johansen picks out Bitton on the edge of the box once again, but this time the midfielder sends his effort well over the bar. A fitting end to Celtic's game.
FULL-TIME: Molde 3-1 Celtic
Celtic suffer their first defeat of the group stage with dismal performance to lose in Norway. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could not have dreamed of a better start to his second spell at Molde as his side eased past the Bhoys this evening thanks to goals from Ola Kamara, Vegard Forren and Mohamed Elyounoussi. Kris Commons gave Celtic hope in the second half, but Elyounoussi restored his side's two-goal cushion seconds after the midfielder's goal which killed the visitors' spirit.
Molde are now in an incredibly strong position at the top of Group A to reach the knockout stage of the competition, while Celtic now face a battle in their final three matches to qualify.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.