Bodo/Glimt 2-0 Celtic (5-1 agg): Ange Postecoglou's side humbled by Norwegian champions
- Published
Ola Solbakken gave Bodo/Glimt an early lead on the night
Celtic were outclassed by Bodo/Glimt as the slick Norwegian champions dumped the Scots out of the Europa Conference League 5-1 on aggregate.
Chasing a 3-1 first leg deficit, hopes of making the last 16 were extinguished after just nine minutes when Ola Solbakken swept home for the hosts.
And a startled Celtic were undone again as Hugo Vetlesen knocked in a second to compound a miserable night in Norway.
It could have been more with goalkeeper Joe Hart making two outstanding saves.
Bobo/Glimt's late goal in the first leg had handed Celtic a mountain to climb as they travelled to the Arctic Circle.
Ange Postecoglou's side needed to win by at least two goals against a side who were unbeaten in 13 home games, including a 6-1 rout of Serie A giants Roma.
But, Celtic were overwhelmed in the opening minutes. Amahl Pellegrino had a shot saved and a corner skim the post before it was 1-0 to the hosts.
Nir Bitton lost possession in midfield with Celtic exposed at the back, and Solbakken picked a spot beyond goalkeeper Hart from 18 yards.
Celtic looked dazed, and the wall of yellow shirts kept coming. Hart had to spread himself to deny Pellegrino as the defence was cut open again.
Runar Espejord headed wide. Hart's brilliant one-handed save denied Pellegrino and only a Carl Starfelt deflection denied Solbakken on the follow-up as Celtic continued to toil.
The Scottish Premiership leaders looked a side devoid of any belief. With 10 minutes to go to half-time they already looked resigned to going out of the competition. The challenge simply seemed to be trying to avoid an embarrassment.
They did get a glimpse of goal before the break. Giorgios Giakoumakis headed weakly into the goalkeeper's hands, then an already offside Starfelt knocked a free-kick over the bar.
With the heavy wind behind them, Celtic were more of an attacking force after the break, but home goalkeeper Joshua Smits was able to watch a glut of crosses go past him without having a save to make.
Eventually, the chances arrived. Daizen Maeda broke through the defence but blasted over, and Liel Abada shot straight at Smits.
But the home side always looked like they could grab a second, and they did when Vetlesen lost Bitton in the box and knocked home Morten Konradsen's cut-back on the half volley.
Giakoumakis, fresh from a weekend hat-trick against Dundee, tried to cut the deficit but lifted a shot over the bar, and Abada put a late chance wide as the Scots were frozen out in Norway.
Man of the match - Amahl Pellegrino
Amahl Pellegrino's touch, pace and vision made him a nightmare to handle, and he was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet
What did we learn?
The Norwegian champions proved to be a slick, well-organised and effective counter-attacking unit in the first leg.
They were just as impressive at home as they were in Glasgow. The more Celtic pushed forward, the more the home side exploited the gaps and swarmed in attack.
Celtic stemmed the tide and threatened after the break, but more due to Bodo/Glimt taking their foot off the gas with the job done, and yet they still cut the visitors open.
For manager Postecoglou, it is a wake-up call for his side. As impressive as they have been going forward in recent games, they have shown a vulnerability at the back, conceding at least two goals in four of their last five games, with only Championship side Raith Rovers unable to breach their defence.
What did they say?
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou on BT Sport: "The levels of performance weren't at the level we needed them to be.
"The least effective performances in Europe were in these last two games, including the 4-0 defeat to Leverkusen.
"I expect to go further in every competition we play, that's the nature of this football club. Europe for us was beyond us in terms of levels we needed to get to. It's my responsibility to make sure we improve and next year ensure that we perform better.
"I think the supporters understand where we're at and what we need to do."
What's next?
Celtic visit Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday (12:00 GMT) as they bid to hold on to top spot in the table.
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