Europa League
2018-09-20 - Celtic vs Rosenborg
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Europa League
Thursday 20th September 2018 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Celtic
Everything does not seem to be going as smoothly for Celtic Park in Brendan Rodgers' third season in charge as it had been in his first couple of years. Missing out on the Champions League Group Stage was a huge blow for Celtic both for the fans as well as the finances of the club, but a strong run in the Europa League will at least alleviate some of the disappointment.
For the first time in a long time it feels like the Scottish Premiership could have a genuine title race on their hands as Celtic have made a poor start domestically with a possible Champions League hangover affecting them. They did see off Sudova in the Europa League Qualifiers and Celtic have won 4 of their last 5 home European games although the exception was the 1-1 draw with AEK Athens that cost them a Champions League Group Stage spot.
Celtic are unbeaten in their last 6 games in all competitions and they have won 4 of those which should suggest they are turning a corner. They have already hosted 7 home games in all competitions in the 2018/19 season and Celtic have won 6 of those while Celtic have also kept clean sheets in 3 in a row here.
Rosenborg
Scotland might be expecting to see a really interesting title race in their top flight this season and Norwegian fans have the same to look forward to over the next couple of months. Current Champions Rosenborg are leading the way, but they are being pushed by Brann who are just 2 points behind them.
Balancing European commitments and domestic matters will be a challenge for Rosenborg but they did manage it last season when playing in the Europa League Group Stage having fallen in the Champions League Qualifiers. The same has happened this season, but Rosenborg will be hoping to at least make it out of this Group. The side lost both away games played in the Champions League Qualifiers this season, but have followed it up by winning both away games in the Europa League.
Rosenborg are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions and they have won 7 in a row which will give them plenty of belief going into the start of the Europa League Group Stage. They have now won 5 straight away games in all competitions and Rosenborg have scored at least twice in each of those wins.
Head to Head
Celtic and Rosenborg should be very familiar with one another as they face each other for the fifth time in fourteen months.
They met in the Champions League Qualifiers last season and at the start of this season and it is Celtic who have got the better of Rosenborg both times.
Celtic beat Rosenborg 3-1 at home in the Champions League Qualifier this season and they have won 3 of their 4 home games against this opponent.
However the fixture in the Qualifiers last season ended goalless at Celtic Park.
Prediction
Revenge will be on the mind of the Rosenborg players as they face Celtic for the fifth time in fourteen months having been beaten in the Champions League Qualifiers in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 season. Gaining revenge won't be so easy as Celtic have just looked like they might be turning a corner on what has been an inconsistent start to the season.
In saying that Rosenborg have won 7 in a row in all competitions and have won back to back away games in the Europa League and both stats need to be respected. This is a team who are used to winning football games and they were leading at Celtic Park back in July before going down 3-1.
Celtic have just had a hard time dealing with exiting the Champions League prior to the Group Stage as that is the main aim for the club in recent years. It comes with a financial boost and gives the fans something to look forward to after dominating Scottish Football under Brendan Rodgers.
At the moment Celtic are 5 points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, but they remain strong favourites domestically and a good run in the Europa League has to be a real ambition for Rodgers. Last season he insisted Celtic needed to be playing in Europe after Christmas and that will be the goal in a tough Group this time around too.
Celtic have to win games like this if they do want to progress to the Last 32 and I do think they hold the mental edge over Rosenborg. The Norwegian Champions are in fine form, but Celtic Park is a tough Stadium for any team to visit and I will back Celtic to match their margin of victory when the teams met in the Champions League Qualifiers at the end of July.
The Pick :
Celtic 2-0 Rosenborg
