Summary

  • Rodgers' side secure 4-1 aggregate win over Lithuanian champions

  • Ajer nods in third after McGregor finds bottom left-hand corner

  • Griffiths free-kick opener is 100th goal for Celtic

  • Nine-man Rangers draw 1-1 with Ufa to progress

  • It's been a decade since two Scottish clubs were the group stage of a European competition

  • Get involved #bbcsportscot

  1. Postpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic 0-0 Suduva (1-1)

    Scott McDonald
    Former Celtic striker on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    It irks me to see Leigh Griffiths taking the free kicks because there's no better player for sniffing out a chance in the box and he's good in the air too

  2. Long night ahead?published at 20:09 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic 0-0 Suduva (1-1)

    Chris McLaughlin
    BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

    Brendan Rodgers said in his pre-match programme notes that Celtic would have to be patient. As expected, Suduva immediately take up a defensive position and prepare to soak up what the Scottish champions have to offer.

  3. Postpublished at 6 mins

    Celtic 0-0 Suduva (1-1)

    Suduva are packing men behind the ball, with five across the back and a busy unit of three beavering away in front of them. They've gone with two strikers, one of which is a new signing, Austrian Sandro Gotal.

  4. Postpublished at 3 mins

    Celtic 0-0 Suduva (1-1)

    Celtic seeing a lot of the ball as you would expect and the first shot in anger is fired by Scott Sinclair, with his rising effort screeching over the crossbar.

  5. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic 0-0 Suduva (1-1)

    Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov sounds his whistle and we're off at Celtic Park.

  6. A comfortable night for Celtic?published at 19:58 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    I expect Celtic to go through by a couple of goals tonight. It's important for them to get some momentum back.

  7. Almost there...published at 19:56 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    'You'll Never Walk Alone' is belted out at a busy Celtic Park. That means there's not long to go now.

  8. Can Griffiths reach his Celtic century?published at 19:54 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Leigh Griffiths is on 99 Celtic goals and the striker, who has been blighted by injury in 2018, will fancy his chances of adding to that tally tonight.

    Suduva conceded eight on their last visit to Celtic Park but the Lithuanians have improved significantly since 2002.

  9. 'Rodgers demands a reaction'published at 19:47 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Chris McLaughlin
    BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

    Brendan Rodgers was uncharacteristically critical of his players after last week’s draw in Lithuania - he’s demanding a lot more in the east end of Glasgow tonight. Perhaps with Rangers in mind, James Forrest starts on the bench. Mikey Johnston takes his place on the right and, after rejecting a bid from Lyon for Moussa Dembele, the Frenchman misses out altogether.

    A win and progression tonight would help calm the growing unease at matters off the field. Suduva were poor last week but they’re here with nothing to lose.

  10. 'I can't see it happening' - Rodgers on Dembelepublished at 19:45 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Moussa Dembele is happy to pose for photos with fans tonight.

    Here's a bit more detail on what Brendan Rodgers had to say on the striker's situation.

    "We don't want Moussa to go and I can't see it happening," Rodgers told BBC Scotland after explaining that the 22-year-old wasn't in the "right frame of mind" to play.

    "There's not a huge list of players that can come in and offer the qualities Moussa gives us," the Celtic boss added.

    "It's very hard within three days (to the Scottish transfer window closing) to do that."

    Moussa DembeleImage source, SNS
  11. Celtic must shake off Champions League disappointmentpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    There's the small matter of a Glasgow derby against rivals Rangers to come at the weekend, but first Celtic must make sure of a Europa League group spot.

    Disappointment still lingers after their Champions League exit but there's no time for Brendan Rodgers' side to ponder what might have been.

    The Scottish champions have been stuttering of late.

    A rather low-key 1-0 success at home to Hamilton Accies on Sunday means Celtic have won just three of their last eight games.

    That sequence included the first back-to-back defeats of Rodgers' reign as he enters his third season in Glasgow. Hardly a crisis, but a shock slip up tonight would present a full blown catastrophe.

  12. 'A big moment' for Rangerspublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    FT: Ufa 1-1 Rangers (1-2)

    Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was absolutely delighted with the effort shown by his depleted side in Russia.

    "I think this is a big moment for the club," he told RangersTV.

    "I saw what it's about to be a Rangers player, which is you give your body and soul for this club. My players did that tonight."

    The Ibrox side remain unbeaten under Gerrard and have negotiated four qualifying rounds to get to the group phase of the Europa League.

    Rangers manager Steven GerrardImage source, SNS
  13. Rangers recappublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    FT: Ufa 1-1 Rangers (1-2)

    If you were unable to follow our coverage of Rangers' success in Russia this afternoon, you probably need to sort your life out. For those with proper jobs, here's a quick summary of a madcap game.

    Ovie Ejaria gave Rangers an early lead with a sweet, curling strike and it looked like the Ibrox team were on Easy Street.

    The game took on a different complexion when Alfredo Morelos foolishly got himself sent off shortly after Dmitri Sysuev's leveller. And the nerves were really jangling when Jon Flanagan's dismissal left the visitors to hang on with nine men for almost half an hour.

    But hang on they did, with a couple of scares along the way.

    You can read the full report from Scott Mullen here.

    Rangers drew 1-1 in Russia to reach the group stage of the Europa LeagueImage source, SNS
  14. Celtic look to flankspublished at 19:29 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    On the inclusion of Mikey Johnston and Scott Sinclair, Brendan Rodgers says: "They (Suduva) will probably sit deep so it's important to have wingers doubling up with our full-backs to really get at them and try to open them up.

    "We're at home and we want a level of tempo and intensity."

  15. LINE-UPS at Celtic Parkpublished at 19:26 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Celtic: Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Ajer, Tierney, McGregor, Brown, Ntcham, Johnston, Griffiths, Sinclair.

    Substitutes: Bain, Izaguirre, Gamboa, Hayes, Christie, Rogic, Forrest.

    Suduva: Kardum, Svrljuga, Gajduchik, Jankauskas, Zivanovic, Slavickas, Acevedo, Cadjenovic, Offenbacher, Cicilia, Gotal.

    Substitutes: Aleksandrov-Ridley, Cinikas, Leimonas, Kasparavicius, Matulevicius, Verbickas, Vezevicius.

  16. 'Desperation' or 'a good player' or both?published at 19:23 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    BBC Scotland pundit Michael Stewart has been having his say on that possible transfer to Celtic for Youssouf Mulumbu.

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  17. Mulumbu to join Celtic?published at 19:20 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Youssouf MulumbuImage source, SNS

    One player who could be on his way in at Celtic is Youssouf Mulumbu.

    The former West Brom midfielder, who left Kilmarnock in May, was at Celtic Park earlier today and Brendan Rodgers is keen on signing up the 31-year-old.

    "We've been on the look out for an aggressive number eight," said Rodgers. "Hopefully he gets through a medical this evening.

    "He was exceptional for Kilmarnock. He fits the profile and has the experience. It's a really good move for us."

  18. Rodgers says Dembele move is unlikelypublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    Have we seen the last of Moussa Dembele at Celtic? He's not involved tonight but manager Brendan Rodgers hopes he can hold on to the 22-year-old striker.

    Lyon confirmed their interest in the forward on Wednesday, while Rodgers has just told BBC Scotland that a "significant offer" has been rejected.

    Dembele, who moved to the Scottish champions from Fulham two seasons ago, has also been linked with a move to Marseille.

    "At some point he will go," said Rodgers, who adds "I can't see it happening (tomorrow)" due to the lack of time to find a replacement.

    "Hopefully it is all resolved by tomorrow. When it comes so late in the day, it's so difficult to get the quality in," he explains.

    So, will Dembele stay put or can we expect some frantic transfer activity at Celtic Park in the next 24 hours?

    Celtic striker Moussa DembeleImage source, SNS
  19. No Dembele or Edouard for Celticpublished at 19:13 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    No Moussa Dembele or Odsonne Edouard for Celtic tonight, with Leigh Griffiths leading the line.

    Celtic have rejected a "significant offer" for Dembele, while Edouard has not quite recovered from a hamstring injury, despite returning to training.

    Teenager Mikey Johnston and Scott Sinclair will play on the wings, supplying the ammunition for Griffiths.

    Celtic XI: Gordon, Lusitg, Boyata, Ajer, Tierney, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Johnston, Sinclair, Griffiths.

  20. Spotlight switches to Celticpublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 30 August 2018

    Celtic v Suduva (1-1, 20:00)

    So, Rangers are through to the group stage of the Europa League after a dramatic draw in Russia. Can Celtic follow them?

    After a 1-1 draw in Lithuania last week, Brendan Rodgers' side are big favourites to get the job done at home to Suduva.