Celtic go into their Europa League playoff round second leg match against AIK with a two-goal advantage. The Scottish champions just need to see out Thursday night’s match to advance to the group stage.
Rikard Norling and his team have it all to do at the Friends Arena. AIK are down two scores and must find the back of the net twice without conceding to have any chance of reaching the group stage.
Celtic failed to reach the playoff round of the Champions League, losing to Cluj on aggregate, but they have rebounded in the Europa League. Neil Lennon’s Hoops need a single away goal to make it even more difficult for AIK to come back.
💬 "With the goal-scoring performances that we've been putting in, we have to be quietly confident."#CelticFC's Neil Lennon looks ahead to #AIKCEL in @CelticTV's latest manager exclusive: Watch in full ▶️ https://t.co/Kn72tCgB6A pic.twitter.com/chLgnVyhs4— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 27, 2019
💬 "With the goal-scoring performances that we've been putting in, we have to be quietly confident."#CelticFC's Neil Lennon looks ahead to #AIKCEL in @CelticTV's latest manager exclusive: Watch in full ▶️ https://t.co/Kn72tCgB6A pic.twitter.com/chLgnVyhs4
If Celtic can gain an away goal, AIK would need four scores to overturn the tie. It feels like an insurmountable score for the Swedes.
The Hoops could have Hatem Elhamed back in the starting XI. He sat out Celtic's wins over AIK and Hearts. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is expected to start as Scott Bain is ruled out with an injury. Ryan Christie should be back in the line-up after being held out of Sunday's win over Hearts.
AIK played on the domestic front over the weekend. They defeated rivals Ostersund 3-1 away from home. The Swedes needed an 89th minute goal from Rasmus Lindkvist to gain all three points.
The Stockholm-based club played in the Europa League third qualifying round against FC Sheriff Tiraspol. AIK reached the playoff round thanks to a 3-2 aggregate scoreline. Their form in Europe doesn’t bode well for scoring the goals, or keeping them out, needed to go through.
Until their 2-0 loss to Celtic in the first leg, three of AIK’s four European fixtures saw over 2.5 goals scored.
Celtic have played seven European qualification matches this season. Four of those matches finished with over 2.5 goals scored. The Hoops haven’t just scored goals in European competition this term.
Lennon’s team has been nearly unstoppable in the final third. Celtic have seen over 2.5 goals scored in all three of their Premiership matches this term. Celtic picked up a 3-1 win over Hearts at the weekend.
AIK need to go out and score goals from the start. Expect Norling’s team to start on the front foot. However due to their need for goals, AIK will be open at the back allowing Celtic to score.
The second leg should see AIK win the battle but lose the war to Celtic. Both teams should score with AIK gaining the victory. However, Celtic will progress.