CELTIC have won their last six Champions League qualifiers and can make it a magnificent past by edging past Elfsborg at home.
Improved away from in the tournament means the Scots don't have to rely on Parkhead being a fortress and I'm sure Neil Lennon would accept any lead to take to Sweden next week.
Victory Wanyama and Gary Hooper may have left the side that came through the group stage last season but Celtic should have enough in their locker to take care of a outfit of about the same standard as the Helsinborgs one they knocked out last season.
The Hoops are a best 8-13 with Titanbet to win at Parkhead tonight and 2-5 at Ladbrokes to qualify. If Celtic are at their best they can win by at least two and that returns 13-10 at bet365.
Elfsborg have been struggling domestically and the 12 goals they fired past Daugava in the previous round have to be taken into context. Their best striker is on-loan Celt Mo Bangura who has been given the go-ahead to play and he's 8-1 (various) to score first.
In the absence of Hooper the first-scorer favourite is Anthony Stokes at 4-1 (various) followed by Euro goal expert Georgios Samaras at 5-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral.
But picking a Celtic opening marksman isn't easy these days. It was Mikael Lustig away to Cliftonville and Efe Ambrose in the home tie.
So if you're looking for an outside chance consider comeback star and deadball expert Charlie Mulgrew at 16-1 with Skybet while skipper Scott Brown starred against Moenchengladbach last weekend and is 6-1 to net at anytime.
And what about Lustig grabbing the glory against his countrymen? He is 25-1 at Coral to score first and 8-1 to hit the target.
Recommended Bets
Mulgrew to score
(11-2, Skybet)
Celtic to win by one
(13-5, bet365, Ladbrokes)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
That’s a good assessment Mr F
This is a match that I think Celfic will win but not as comfortably as everyone thinks! I think there will be more than one goal but I don’t think there will more than 3 which takes me to the 2-3 goals market!
What helps back this up is Celtics home record in the champions league! Unbelievably 10 of their last 12 matchs have seen 2-3 match goals bet come in!
2-3 match goals or me at 1/1
Celtic are 8/13 with bet365
I think that’s a great price and worth getting on!
Celtic to win
2-0 Celtic correct score
Commons fgs
Lustig anytime
It’s a tricky tie. But Celtic should be beating them about 3 nil easily. As long as they take thier chances an defend if they need to should have beat cliftonville about 10 at home. That’s what makes it a banana skin tie for me cause elfsborg should pose a slightly bigger threat than cliftonville
Tony, Elfsborg won’t be an easy game and so say they pose a “slightly bigger threat than Cliftonville” is the understatement of the season so far.
Nice to see you agree with my selections Paul.
£60 Charlie Mulgrew First Goal @ 16/1
£30 Charlie Mulgrew Last Goal @ 16/1
£20 Lustig First Goal @ 25/1
£50 Lustic anytime @ 8/1
£50 Celtic 1-0 @ 6/1
£50 Celtic 2-0 @ 7/1
Good luck everyone
Chris, Mulgrew always has a chance but goals quite easily fall to the front players.
SELECTIVE HANDICAP (EXTREME).
CELTIC – ELFSBORG.
No doubt about consensus here. Celtic will win but not by many goals so I’ll increase the odds for Celtic to win (by no more than two goals) and cover some of the bet if Elfsborg should manage a surprise draw.
Celtic – Elfsborg
Draw
Stake: 13% of the total stake on the match
Celtic handicap -1 draw
Odds: 3,60
Stake: 50%
Celtic handicap -2 draw
Stake: 37%
This way I’m getting half of money back if a draw and 1,77 if Celtic win by one or two goals.
The Dane.
Forgot the odds for Celtic -2 draw which is 4,75.
Sorry about that.
The Dane.
The Dane, I’d be surprised if it was anything else.
Paul can’t see Elfsborg scoring so I think 1-0 and 2-0 has a decent shout. The racing post seem to disagree, they go Elfsborg draw no bet @ 8/5. Lets hope they’re wrong. Paul I spoke to Charlie last night and he tells me he’s going to score a header. Lustig also tells me he’s going to score but can’t guarantee it will be first.
elfsorg should notch at least one goal,the draw looks more likely 1-1 or 2-2,there isn,t much between these two sides at all.
the advantage is that celtic have good support for home european ties.
chris cancel they bets and stick the lot on big samaras, hopefully the dutch winger/striker gets a start wi ledley brown commons in midfield wi stokes and samaras up front. meant to be a good crosser of the ball and big sammy will take advantage every chance. seen someone post earlier that’s he’s 7/5 wi betvictor but had £ in skybet and got evens
Nah Craig Lustig and Mulgrew. I considered Samaras at 5/1 though
dont know odds
celtic to come from behind and win 2-1
charlie and the boys king rib supper and 10 beers to set me up for the night. will have to listen to it on radio if cant get link tho but 2nd leg is on bbc :)
aye chris wouldn’t mind mulgrew scoring 1st as got him 3-1 celtic in £5 scorecast at 120/1, happy when samaras scores tho :)
I thought the game was on bbc
Chris, no not the home leg.
Ten beers? I don’t think i’ve drank that many in my entire life….lol can’t imagine doing that just to listen to the radio, i think i’ll be backing Mulgrew to score anytime tonight
Haha john, up for work at 6 the mora so quiet yin.
Not on bbc chris, the 2nd leg next wed is on at half 6 tho
any1 no if the match is on live
watabanker, Celtic’s not on TV but you’ll pick it up on the net somewhere.
watabanker, it’s a betting site, if you want to be a Celtic cheerleader go on to a fans’ forum.
try sportlemon.tv or wiziwig watabanker
thanks guys off 2 bar watch it. v large stake on celtic btr cum up missus il kill me lol gl
No Charlie Mulgrew, he is on the bench so be careful with anytime
Chris, posted earlier, I’m on Brown now!
£50 on Samaras @ 5/1 and £10 on stokes @ 5/1 to cover. Disappointed Mulgrew not playing but let’s hope for Samaras and Lustig
2-0 celtic 11/2 looks good wi 365
samaras close there
over 0.5 gls 5/6 wi 20 mins left decent £20 on it
Why don´t they put Baldé? The guy they bought from Guimarães. He was pretty good here in Portugal in the big games. I´m sorry but Stokes is terrible and a diver.
Sly, Balde’s not looked great in pre-season so far, that’s why.
PUT JORGE CADETE ON! There´s only one Joooorge Cadete, he puts the ball in the netty
Goooooal Celtic :)
He´s getting used to a new club and reality. He´s better than Stokes no doubt about it
£60 Charlie Mulgrew First Goal @ 16/1 void
£30 Charlie Mulgrew Last Goal @ 16/1 lost
£20 Lustig First Goal @ 25/1 lost
£50 Lustic anytime @ 8/1 lost
£50 Celtic 1-0 @ 6/1 won
£50 Celtic 2-0 @ 7/1 lost
£50 Samaras First Goal @ 5/1 lost
£10 Stokes First Goal @ 5/1 lost
£320 stake
£410 return
Profit £90
Could have been better but will take the £90 all the same.
Sammybwas unlucky couple of times but clean sheet makes all the difference next week, we score 1st they have to get 3 to qualify. Every week getting fitter plus league starts in Saturday so quietly confidant
Was at the game tonight and you called it right Mr.F. Well done. Celtic looked rusty against a team halfway through their season but showed slightly more quality in the end. Celtic have to be favourites now with an away goal in Sweden leaving Elfsborg needing to score 3. Shocked at The Racing Post and others backing Elfsborg as they are a pretty average side…
Hank, probably 2-0 would have been a fairer exception and maybe Hooper was missed. Think Celtic will score over there and go through with a win or draw.
Mr.F, was a pretty lacklustre performance from most tonight with the exception of Samaras and Commons who looked busy and Stokes who was starved of service but done nothing wrong when on the ball and came close with a free kick.
Craig Alves was better crowd than expected not sure of official crowd but between 30 and 40 id say. Samaras got a fair bit of treatment aye, they struggled to cope with the big man’s running. He’s a superstar though, with the head & shoulders advert out in Greece to back this up. :)
Hank, official just over 40,000.
Craig alves posted before I seen your post, not meaning to copy.lol
Haha no worries, was it a decent crowd hank?? I was listening to it on radio and sounded like samaras was getting kicked uo and down the park in the 2nd half
Brazillian football baffles me at times. Cruziero unbeaten in 5 and banging in the goals go to Fluminese, who havent won in 5 and conceding goals for fun, as massive underdogs…
Haha the greasy greek legend :( can always rely on big sammy for the big games, I’ll be going to the play off home game if we get through defo. 4 5 1 wi samaras up on his own next week I think, want to see new Dutch signing getting a run out on Saturday to see how he is, could be a steal if he stays injury free and the type of player we need. Can also see another striker coming in soon and wi ledley mulgrew back next wk should be ok
Craig Alves, Mulgrew and Ledley are massive players for Celtic and we are definately a worse team without them. Looking forward to Matthews returning to fitness as well.
Poor game between 2 sides who are probably same standard as lower premiership and top championship.
Celtic defo to get through as elfsborg are pooooor.
Elfsborg aren’t anywhere near Premier League Level and a full strength and fit Celtic side could certainly finish mid-table in a league where West Brom can finish 8th…..