Opinion: Celtic should have one aim for first leg of European tie

As Celtic get ready to face Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the Europa Conference League knockout round on Thursday night, it will be interesting to see how Ange Postecoglou’s side approaches the game.

You would imagine that the Hoops boss won’t change the playing style that he has implemented at Celtic Park, even though it is a European tie and not a domestic game.

The Hoops played an attacking style of football in the group stages of the Europa League this season, and it paid off to an extent, as the Bhoys finished third in the group scoring 13 goals in six games.

Therefore, expect the Hoops to be on the front foot, and the team should have the aim of getting the tie won in the first leg. If the Hoops can take a four of five goal lead to Norway for the second leg of the tie, it would all but guarantee that the side will make it through to the next round of the tournament.

It would also allow the Hoops to rotate the squad for the second leg, and perhaps give some squad players a game, as that would allow Ange Postecoglou to rest some players ahead of the league game – away to Hibernian – after the second leg.

The Celtic boss won’t be thinking ahead to Celtic’s league games, he will be solely focusing on the first leg against the Norwegian side. But it would be a real statement from the Hoops if the Bhoys defeated Bodo/Glimt by four or five goals.

Europe would surely sit up and take notice, than a team that defeated Roma 6-1 have been heavily defeated by Celtic.

Are Celtic capable of scoring as many as five goals in Europe? Absolutely, but it would require the Hoops to keep the same level of intensity for the entire game. That hasn’t happened in some recent games, against Rangers for example, as the Bhoys had the game won