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Malmo
Champions League | Playoff Round
Aug 25, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Celtic logo

2-0

Rosenberg (23'), Boyata (55' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Malmo 2-0 (4-3) Celtic - as it happened

Relive Malmo's 2-0 victory over Celtic in the second leg of their Champions League playoff as the Scottish champions miss out on a place in the group stages.
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Malmo booked their place in the group stages of the Champions League at Celtic's expense this evening courtesy of a 2-0 win in their playoff second leg at the Malmo New Stadium.

The returning Markus Rosenberg gave the hosts the lead on the night with a close-range header from a corner, but there was controversy shortly before half time as Celtic saw a goal harshly ruled out.

Malmo put the final nail in the coffin 10 minutes into the second half when Dedryck Boyata got the last touch to a Felipe Carvalho header from another corner.

Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.


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Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what promises to be a fascinating night of Champions League football as Malmo and Celtic go head to head in the second leg of their qualifying playoff. One of these sides are just one game away from the group stages of Europe's premier competition but, at the halfway stage of the tie, it could still go either way. Let's start with a look at some team news...

MALMO STARTING XI: Wiland; Tinnerholm, Árnason, Bengtsson, Yotún; Rodic, Lewicki, Adu, Berget; Rosenberg, Djurdjic

MALMO SUBS: Andersson, Rakip, Molins, Mehmeti, Eikrem, Carvalho, Vindheim

CELTIC STARTING XI: Gordon; Janko, Boyata, van Dijk, Mulgrew; Brown, Bitton; Forrest, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths

CELTIC SUBS: Izaguirre, Ambrose, Ciftci, Commons, Mackay-Steven, Rogic, Bailly

What can we make of those two sides, then? Well, Age Hareide makes two changes for the hosts from the match in Glasgow, and both see players return to the starting XI having missed the first leg through suspension. The most significant of those is likely to be the inclusion of Rosenberg up front, with the striker Malmo's top scorer this season. He scored three of the club's four goals during their first ever Champions League group stage campaign last season, and fans of English football are likely to remember him from a stint with West Bromwich Albion.

In his absence, it was Jo Inge Berget who shouldered the goalscoring mantle six days ago, with the midfielder finding the back of the net twice against his former club. His time at Celtic was short and unsuccessful as he failed to work his way into the starting lineup on a regular basis, eventually going back to parent club Cardiff City with two goals from eight appearances to his name. He matched that tally in 90 minutes alone last week, though, and the second in particular could prove to be crucial come the end of tonight's match.

The Malmo players celebrate together after Jo Inge Berget goal early in the second half during the UEFA Champions League Qualifying play off first leg match, between at Celtic Park on August 19, 2015© Getty Images


Elsewhere, Malmo will be looking to Rodic to provide an attacking threat, with the right-sided midfielder causing one or two problems last week when he cut inside. He is joined in midfield this week by Enoch Kofi Adu, who replaces Rakip in the starting XI having returned from suspension. Further forward Djurdic starts once again, and he showed enough promise last week to suggest that he could test the visitors on occasions tonight.

There are no changes at the back for Malmo, but Tinnerholm in particular will be hopeful of producing a better performance than he managed last time out. The right-back looked uneasy at various points through the match and made a complete mess of a clearance in the build-up to Celtic's third goal. Arnason has spent time playing in Scotland previously, so Celtic should hold no surprises for him, while Wiland in goal reportedly uttered some inflammatory remarks about tonight's visitors after the first leg, branding them "pigs" and "children".

As for Celtic, they also make two changes to their side, with both of those coming at the back. One of those is an enforced one after Lustig was stretched off with a hamstring problem in the first leg, although the injury is not as bad as his tears at the time suggested, with the Swede rated as 50-50 to make tonight's game. He hasn't passed the late fitness test, however, which means that Sandy Janko fills in at right-back.

On the other side of the defence, Charlie Mulgrew is drafted back into the side, demoting Emilio Izaguirre to the bench. Boyata and Van Dijk continue as the centre-back partnership, despite the latter being repeatedly linked with a move away from the club. His decision could well rely on whether he will be playing Champions League football next season, with the reported interested party of Southampton only able to offer the Dutch centre-back a place in the Europa League.

There are no changes in midfield as Mackay-Steven once again has to settle for a place on the bench, while Nir Bitton - a goalscorer in the first leg - starts despite concerns over his fitness. Scott Brown will captain the side alongside the big Israeli, while further forward Forrest, Armstrong and Johansen will look to do the damage. The latter of those played a huge part in Celtic's first-leg opener with a sublime reverse pass to Leigh Griffiths.

Speaking of Griffiths, the in-form striker continues to lead the line as expected today, with Nadir Ciftci once again only making the bench having served the fifth of a six-match domestic ban at the weekend. Griffiths was always likely to start having scored twice in the first leg and also found the net against Dundee United on Saturday to take his recent tally to five goals in four games.

Leigh Griffiths of Celtic celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round Play off First Leg match between Celtic and Malmo FF at Celtic Park on AUGUST 19, 2015© Getty Images


Stopping Griffiths will be towards the top end of the agenda for Malmo tonight, but the simple fact is that they have to win here to progress. The first leg could have ended even worse for them and they will consider themselves relatively fortunate to be in such a good position at the halfway stage having been blown away in the opening quarter of an hour six days ago. They eased their way back into the match, however, and that Berget strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time gives them a real chance here.

Indeed, some may even make them favourites going into this game considering that they have a much better record in front of their own fans than they do on the road. They are unbeaten at the Swedbank Stadion in any competition since May 21st, a run that stretches back eight matches, while they have won each of their last four. In the Champions League alone, they have lost just three of their 13 home games, with two of those coming last season against the giants that are Juventus and Atletico Madrid.

In all, they are unbeaten in their last 11 UEFA qualification matches at home, although perhaps the most impressive thing about their record here is how strong they have been defensively. They have not conceded a single goal in their last nine European qualification matches, while in the Champions League alone they have kept eight clean sheets from their 13 home games. Remember, a 1-0 victory would be enough to send them through on away goals this evening.

Their most recent European match at home should fill them with confidence as they ran out 3-0 victors over Salzburg - a team who Hareide claims are better than Celtic. Malmo needed a special European night having fallen to a 2-0 loss in the first leg, but they were in front on aggregate by half time of the second leg courtesy of a three-goal blitz in the opening 45 minutes. They had a man sent off in the second half too, but held on to knock Salzburg out of the qualifying stages for the second year running.

Indeed, it was at this stage that they met Salzburg in last season's competition, and again they went into a home second leg trailing by one goal. It was 2-1 on that occasion, but they didn't even need that away goal in the end as they again ran out 3-0 winners at home to the Austrian outfit. A repeat of that tonight would do very nicely indeed. They have also seen off Lithuanian side Zalgiris already in this season's competition, although they only managed a goalless draw at home in that one on their way to a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory.

Things haven't been quite as successful domestically this season, however, with Malmo's title defence hanging by a thread. Hareide's side currently sit fifth in the Allsvenskan, trailing league leaders IFK Goteborg by seven points with just nine games remaining. Only two teams in the league have scored more goals, but none in the top six have conceded more, and that has been Malmo's major undoing this season so far. They have won the title for the last two seasons but, following a 1-0 loss away to eighth-placed Hacken at the weekend, it would take an unlikely series of events to see them make it a hat-trick.

Indeed, it would take an impressive recovery for them to even put themselves in European contention, despite making the Champions League group stages for the first time in the club's history last season. They never threatened to go any further in the competition, particularly considering they were drawn with Juventus and Atletico Madrid, but they did manage to pick up one win, beating Olympiacos 2-0 here to register their only points of the campaign.

That is still more than Celtic managed, with the Bhoys being condemned to Europa League football with defeat at this stage of qualifying last season. On that occasions they fell to Maribor, but in truth they were a little fortunate to have even made it that far. Ronny Deila's side were comfortably beaten by Legia Warsaw in the third qualifying round last season, but they were handed a reprieve when the Polish side were punished for fielding an ineligible player.

Celtic do, of course, have quite a bit of history in this competition. They won the trophy with the Lisbon Lions of 1967 and have had some memorable European nights against the likes of Barcelona in recent years, but they haven't exactly set the continent alight in the last two seasons. I have already talked about last term's failed campaign that saw them drop to the Europa League, and they have rather muddled their way through sections this time around too.

The Bhoys' 6-1 aggregate win over Icelandic minnows Stjarnan was not quite as emphatic as the scoreline might suggest, with two late goals putting the gloss on that one for Celtic, who trailed on the night at one point in the second leg. Qarabag FK were next up for the Hoops, and that brought two very tight games that were only settled by a Dedryck Boyata goal late in the first leg. Then, in the first leg of this tie, they faded following a very bright start and may have cost themselves a place in the group stages by conceding that late goal.

They enter the game in good form, however, having won three on the bounce and not been beaten in any of their 10 matches in all competitions this season. Indeed, stretching back to the previous campaign, their unbeaten streak now stands at 16 games. Furthermore, they have not been beaten inside 90 minutes - something that Malmo must do tonight - since the start of March, a run of 25 games.

They are unbeaten in nine consecutive away games in all competitions too, while that number stretches back to 14 if you only take into account 90 minutes. However, their record on the road when it comes to European matters is a lot less formidable. They have only won one of their last eight away games on the continent, drawing four and losing three in that time. The victory over Stjarnan in the second leg of the second qualifying round is the only exception in that run.

Domestically, things have been going fine for Celtic so far, although they don't sit at the top of the Scottish Premiership at the moment. They have taken 13 points from the opening 15 on offer, placing them two points behind Hearts, who have begun the campaign with a 100% record. Aberdeen also have a 100% record so far, but they have only played four games so sit behind the Bhoys in the table.

No side has scored more in the Scottish top flight so far this season, with Celtic notching 13 goals, three of which came in the weekend victory over Dundee United. It was a much-changed Celtic outfit for that match, with Ronny Deila clearly prioritising a place in the Champions League group stages. Just two places kept their place from the first leg for the match at the weekend, but they still secured a relatively straightforward victory thanks to goals from Griffiths, Durnan (own goal) and McGregor.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff here in Malmo, which means that it is time for a prediction! The hosts have a good home European record and, taking into account Celtic's away troubles in continental football, this could be a tough game for the visitors. Both sides do seem evenly matched, but when that late goal went in at the end of the first leg it felt that it could be pivotal. I think that will be the case, and ultimately Malmo will progress on away goals courtesy of a 2-1 win on the night.

Malmo have welcomed two Scottish teams to their ground before, and they are unbeaten in both of those games. Celtic's Old Firm rivals Rangers visited in the 2011-12 Champions League third qualifying round, with the two teams playing out a 1-1 draw that saw Malmo progress after a 1-0 win in the first leg in Glasgow. Things were more straightforward for the hosts when they took on Hibs here, winning 2-0 to round off an emphatic 9-0 aggregate victory in Europa League qualifying.

Celtic don't have a bad record on Swedish soil either, though, having won one and drawn one of their two visits. That includes a 2-0 victory over Helsingborg, who at the time were managed by now Malmo boss Age Hareide, while Djurdic, who starts up front for the hosts tonight, played for the Swedish outfit in that game. Their other game ended in a goalless draw with Elfsborg, meaning that they are yet to concede in Sweden. If that record is still intact by the end of tonight's match then they will be in the Champions League group stages.

There are a few underlying subplots to tonight's match. In addition to the war of words that has been raging between the two clubs, with Hareide and a number of his players allegedly critical of their visitors tonight, there is history between Ronny Deila and Malmo too. The now-Celtic boss was in talks over becoming Malmo manager before he joined the Bhoys in 2014, but they instead plumped for Hareide, while Deila moved over to Glasgow.

Right, the players are out, the Champions League music has been played and we're just about ready to go here. This is a huge night for both of these clubs, with a place in the group stages of the Champions League - and the riches that come with it - up for grabs.

KICKOFF: Malmo get us underway here, and the sell-out 26,000 crowd is making a racket as they look to cheer the hosts on to a second consecutive appearance in the Champions League group stages.

Celtic make an early break down the right flank, but Armstrong's ball is intercepted by Yotun. Janko collects it on the opposite flank, however, and his cut-back is almost turned home by Griffiths, only to be denied by a piece of last-ditch defending.

SHOT! Berget was Malmo's star in the first leg and he looks to make a quick start here. He collects the ball on the left before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful effort towards the far top corner, but it ends up some way wide.

This match has started at a really good tempo, just as the first leg did. This time it is a lot more even in the opening exchanges however, and you can tell that there is no love lost between these two sides. No quarter is being given or asked so far.

Malmo will be pretty pleased with how they have started this one. They were already behind at this stage of the first leg, but they have looked bright thus far and are seeing plenty of the ball. This one is shaping up very nicely indeed.

I can't imagine it will be too long before we see a card in this one. Mulgrew is fortunate to escape one here as he mistimes a sliding challenge halfway up the field, but referee Milorad Mazic opts for leniency and keeps his card in his pocket. Probably wise considering how this game has started.

CLOSE! Celtic just can't handle Berget at the moment. He pops up on the right this time and glides past Mulgrew far too easily before playing a low cross into the box. Rosenberg throws himself at the ball, but is just short of connecting and turning it home as the ball rolls through to safety.

Now he's on the right and this time Berget is able to get a shot away himself. A deep free kick was knocked down to the bearded former Celtic man and he skips off to the left to create space for a shot. His effort is sliced high and wide, but he has made a very promising start to this match.

CHANCE! Poor defence from Malmo as one long ball forward beats the entire back line. They are slow to react to it and Griffiths takes advantage, showing great pace to beat them to the bouncing ball. He takes it first time on the volley, but can only fire it well wide of the near post. Not the easiest chance by any means, but a sight of goal nonetheless.

This really has been a fast and furious start to the match. Malmo have looked dangerous every time they come forward so far, but they are also looking uncertain and vulnerable at the back. That makes for an entertaining spectacle as far as the neutral is concerned!

The crown noise has not subsided at all since the start of the match either. This feels like a really special occasion and I would be surprised if we didn't have a goal sooner rather than later if things carry on like this.

Forrest looks to run at Yotun for the first time tonight, but the Malmo left-back gets a challenge in to concede a corner.

YELLOW CARD! The initially delivery comes to nothing, but Celtic keep the pressure on and another cross sees Wiland come to claim and only get the slightest of touches on the ball. That is just enough to prevent Van Dijk from nodding it home at the back post, however, and the Dutch centre-back is then booked for kicking the ball away. Harsh one from the ref.

GOAL! Malmo 1-0 Celtic (Markus Rosenberg)

First blood on the night goes to Malmo, who move into the aggregate lead on away goals as a result. It comes from a corner as Van Dijk, focused on his own man, doesn't see Rosenberg flying in to attack the ball really well. The striker rises highest and plants his header home from close range to make it 1-0 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate.

SAVE! Celtic look for an immediate response, feeding the ball out to Forrest on the right. He cuts inside having been afforded too much space by Yotun, but his eventually curling shot from the edge of the box is tame and straight at the keeper, who holds on with ease.

This has been a really good response from Celtic. They have dominated the ball since falling behind, and Forrest in particular is beginning to have more of an impact on the game with his driving runs. Yotun looks terrified of getting too close to the winger.

Yotun does make a cracking interception here, though. Forrest was again the man causing the danger with a run on the outside, but the pass towards him is cut out by Yotun at full stretch inside the area.

Good defending from Tinnerholm as he deals well with Armstrong's direct running. The Celtic winger looked to push it past the full-back, but Tinnerholm should good pace to win the race and then kept his composure to spin away and win a throw-in.

Malmo haven't really featured in an attacking sense since that goal. Celtic have done well to prevent the hosts from building on any momentum they may have gained from that, but the visitors still need a goal.

Rosenberg has enjoyed a very good game leading the line for Malmo so far. He hasn't been too involved in the final third since his goal, but he gives a physical presence and is not giving Celtic's defence an easy time of things here.

Armstrong is called into an important piece of defensive work, sliding in to make an interception from Rosenberg's pass down the line, with Tinnerholm lurking behind him.

SHOT! Almost a second for Malmo and Rosenberg as Celtic fail to fully clear their lines from a quick break. The loose ball falls to the Malmo skipper on the edge of the box, but his low effort is blocked by Boyata.

YELLOW CARD! An off-the-ball incident sees both Griffiths and Rodic go into the book. The Celtic man was being blocked from getting the ball by Tinnerholm, who went down dramatically when the two players collided. Rodic gets involved as well to earn his place in the book.

There really is an edge to this game. These two sets of players do not seem to like each other at all and, in all honesty, that is only adding to the spectacle. Malmo, meanwhile, have already begun timewasting whenever possible.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Celtic have the ball in the back of the net, but after a moment of deliberation with his official behind the goal he disallows it. The replays show that it is a horrendous decision on two counts. The free kick was awarded for a foul on Wiland, but the contact on the keeper was minimal and he was nowhere neat the ball anyway. Arnason also appeared to punch the ball ahead of Bitton before the Celtic man converted from close range. Shocker from the ref - Celtic should be level!

CHANCE! Big chance at the other end too as Berget does really well to reach the byline before pulling the ball back to Djurdic. However, the striker just can't react in time to turn it goalwards from close range.

WHAT A SAVE! Incredible stop from Gordon to keep the deficit at one! It is more magnificent play from Rosenberg as he holds the ball up inside the area before flicking it back to Djurdic, who is speeding up in support. He gets a good contact to his first-time shot from inside the area, but Gordon sticks out a strong left hand to make a remarkable stop.

HALF TIME: Malmo 1-0 Celtic (3-3 on aggregate, Malmo lead on away goals)

Phew! What a half of football that was! We have only had one goal so far, but it has been a frantic match so far, with both sides contributing to an end-to-end spectacle. I haven't seen a better 45 minutes of action for quite a while, but as things stand Celtic are heading out of the Champions League. They need a goal in the second half.

The only goal of the game so far came from Markus Rosenberg midway through the first half, and it is one that Ronny Deila will not be happy with. It came from a corner, with Rosenberg attacking the ball really well to nod home from close range. It wasn't the cleanest header you will ever see, but with Van Dijk pre-occupied with another man, Rosenberg was free to put it in.

Celtic have had the ball in the back of the net, and they will feel that they should be level right now having seen Bitton's goal harshly disallowed. A free kick was seemingly given for foul on the keeper, but he was nowhere near the ball as he went to punch it clear. Instead, it was Arnason who actually punched the ball, although Bitton was able to still turn it home. Had the referee played advantage then it would have been an equaliser, while otherwise it should have been a penalty and a red card for Arnason. As it was, though, a free kick was given to Malmo.

The first half was played at a frenetic tempo from start to finish, with no quarter being given or asked by either side. Malmo could have even doubled their lead right at the end of the half, but Djurdic was unable to turn the ball home from inside the box before Craig Gordon made a truly stunning save to deny the same player moments later.

Berget made things difficult for Celtic in the early stages, while the returning Rosenberg has also had a fine game for the hosts, but their defence has looked shaky at times. The visitors will feel confident that they will get another chance to get a crucial away goal, but keeping Malmo out at the other end is also imperative for Deila's side.

Celtic actually boasted 56% possession in that first half. It was a good, evenly-contested half for the most part, but the visitors did respond really well to going behind and were on top for a spell after that. However, they have still only managed one shot on target, not counting that harshly disallowed goal, and that simply needs to improve in the coming 45 minutes. This one is still hanging in the balance, though.

KICKOFF: Celtic get us back underway for the second half, and both sides have made changes at the break. Kris Commons replaces Armstrong for the visitors, while Malmo bring on Felipe Carvalho for Rasmus Bengtsson.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Malmo to get a second. Celtic switch off from a quick throw to the byline down the right, and the ball is fed back into the box towards Rosenberg. The skipper finds himself in space, but steers his low effort just wide of the far post.

YELLOW CARD! It didn't take long for the first yellow card of the half to arrive, and it goes to Boyata for a trip on Berget. No complaints with that one.

Berget hasn't done too much wrong over the two legs so far, but this is a dreadful effort from the resulting free kick, ending up closer to the corner flag than the Celtic goal.

A good diagonal finds Johansen in space down the right, and he skips inside Yotun, who brings the midfielder down. Free kick in an interesting position here...

Celtic opt to cross it rather than shoot from a tight angle, but this is much better from Wiland as he rushes out to punch it clear.

SHOT! This is good pressure from Celtic now. Janko's cross into the box takes a touch on the way through and all Johansen can do is help it on its way, but he lifts it past the far post.

WHAT A SAVE! Oh my word, Gordon has just topped his save at the end of the first half with an incredible double stop. He is first at full stretch to tip an initial effort back out into the box before somehow denying Rosenberg from the rebound when the striker looked certain to score.

GOAL! Malmo 2-0 Celtic (Dedryck Boyata own goal)

Gordon's heroics look like being for nothing as, from the resulting corner, Malmo double their lead. Once again the visitors are undone from the set piece, and this time it is Carvalho who attacks the ball really well, nodding it down towards the far post. Boyata tries to clear the ball but, facing his own goal, can only help it over the line, although Gordon nearly saved his side again by clawing the ball back out. It may go down as a Boyata own goal, but Carvalho will be keen to claim it. He gets a booking for his celebration, which sees him run into the crowd to celebrate.

The replays suggest that the head may well have been going just wide, so that will probably go down as a Boyata own goal after all. Whoever it is credited to, Celtic now find themselves needing two goals to go through here.

Once again Celtic are almost caught out by a quick throw, before a poor kick from Gordon almost gifts Berget a chance, but Boyata sees him out to concede a corner.

CHANCE! Wiland is not entirely convincing for crosses into the box. He flaps at thin air from a whipped delivery from the left flank, but no Celtic players are there to capitalise as the ball bounces loose in front of the open goal.

Celtic are throwing everything at Malmo now. Forrest does really well to burst down the left and into the box before pulling the ball back for Brown, but the Celtic skipper just can't get a shot away before being crowded out.

YELLOW CARD! Bitton is the latest to go into the book, having tripped Djurdic after the Malmo striker had nipped in from behind to win the ball.

Bitton is perhaps a little fortunate not to get a second booking less than a minute here. Berget does brilliantly to race back and win the ball before turning and driving down the right. He is only stopped by a cynical trip for Bitton which, had he not just been booked, would surely result in a yellow.

SHOT! The action is just non-stop here! This time it is Griffiths who has a sight of goal, with a long ball forward being flicked on by Johansen to the striker. He snatches at his half-volley, however, slicing it well over the crossbar.

Superb play from Djurdic as he shows good strength and tenacity to see off a number of challenges inside the box, including one that sent him to the ground. Every single Malmo player has worked their socks off this evening.

Bitton is really walking a tightrope now. He again cynically takes down Berget, and that is now two challenges since his yellow card that were each worthy of another booking. Deila may have to look at taking him off here.

CELTIC SUB: There is the change, and it is an attacking one from Deila as he goes for broke with less than 20 minutes remaining. Nadir Ciftci comes on in his place.

Important piece of defending from Carvalho as he slides in facing his own goal to intercept a brilliant low cross from Janko, who could have expected one of the strikers to make that run across the near post.

YELLOW CARD! Tinnerholm is the latest player in the book, and he can have no complaints having pulled back Forrest after being beaten by the winger. Free kick in a good crossing position...

CHANCE! It is a clever one from Celtic as the ball is played in low to the box. Tinnerholm reads it but can't cut it out, although his lunge seems to put off Mulgrew, who can only flick a fairly simple one into the arms of the keeper.

This has been such a fiercely contested match between two fully committed sides. It really has been great to watch, but Celtic are running out of time now.

CELTIC SUB: A third and final change for the visitors sees Gary Mackay-steven come on in place of Forrest.

Mackay-Steven is immediately involved, picking up the ball before cutting inside a picking out a pass to Commons. The latter only has one thing in his mind as he collects the ball, but his powerful long-range effort swerves high over the top.

MALMO SUB: The hosts make a change with eight minutes remaining as Erdal Rakip replaces Radic.

Just six minutes plus stoppage time remain for Celtic to find the two goals needed to stay in the Champions League. If they are to do it now, it will go down as one of the club's great European nights of recent years.

YELLOW CARD! Frustration starting to creep in for Celtic now as Johansen lunges into a poor challenge on Tinnerholm, resulting in a clear yellow card.

Celtic continue to push for a goal back, but in truth they haven't threaten Wiland's goal nearly enough in this second half. They should have been throwing everything at Malmo for some time now, but the hosts have generally coped with their visitors relatively comfortably.

Finally Van Dijk is told to stay up front, but it looks like being too little too late for Celtic now. Malmo are within touching distance of a second consecutive year in the group stages of the Champions League.

Celtic have four additional minutes to come up with something special here.

MALMO SUB: A late change from the hosts to wind down the clock as the excellent Berget departs to be replaced by Agon Mehmeti.

YELLOW CARD! A late yellow card for Rosenberg, who went into an aerial challenge leading with his arm before going down with cramp.

FULL TIME: Malmo 2-0 Celtic (Malmo win 4-3 on aggregate)

The full-time whistle sounds in Malmo, and it is the hosts who progress into the Champions League group stages at the expense of Celtic, who are condemned to Europa League football for the second consecutive season. It was a full-blooded match between two committed teams, but it is hard to argue against Malmo going through on the night. They were the better team here, but you have to wonder whether they would have played with so much belief had they not got that late goal in the first leg. It was a great match from a neutral's point of view, but those Celtic players are distraught right now.

It was Markus Rosenberg who got the opening goal for the hosts with a header from close range having latched on to a corner, and it was another set piece that cost Celtic for the second. Carvalho will try to claim the goal having headed it towards the bottom corner, but it may well go down as an own goal for Boyata, who got the final touch to turn it over the line. Celtic will point to a disallowed goal just before half time as a turning point in the game, but ultimately they did not do enough tonight.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for an incredible night of European action as Malmo book their place in the group stages of the Champions League for a second consecutive season. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. We have more Champions League action for you tomorrow night, including Manchester United's second leg against Club Brugge, so check back in for that. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!

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30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


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Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!