HOW BADLY DO CELTIC NEED A RESULT?
Really badly. They are bottom of Europa League Group A on goal difference and must atone for what was an abysmal display in Norway two weeks ago. To have any chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages, it is not unreasonable to suggest that they have to win their two remaining home matches.
Deila has described the match as a “must-win”. He is absolutely correct.
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HOW MUCH PRESSURE WILL DEILA COME UNDER SHOULD HIS SIDE FAIL TO WIN?
Plenty. Deila has given the impression he believes his job is safe whatever happens in Europe this season, but that seems a strange position for a Celtic manager to take. Results matter whatever the competition at that club and he has had his fair share of expensive failures at European level over the past 16 months or so.
Let’s face it, supporters can force the issue on these matters and there was an angry gang waiting outside the Aker Stadium for him and the players after the 3-1 loss in the first game between the sides in Molde. They are hardly likely to change their opinion should this campaign fall off a cliff completely tonight.
Deila, surely, has to prove to the major shareholder, Dermot Desmond, and the board that he can be trusted with the onerous task of getting the club into the Champions League at the third time of asking next season. He has got to offer evidence that he is getting on top of managing at this level.
WHO WILL BE THE KEY PLAYERS?
Deila has to hope that Jozo Simunovic passes a fitness test. He needs to get a settled back four as quickly as possible and the Croatian is the man he has to build it around. Deila wants his team to play the ball from the back and Simunovic is capable of that whilst others such as Efe Ambrose simply aren’t.
Scott Brown, of course, will be missing in midfield. That places extra responsibility on Nir Bitton, but he seems happy to take that on his shoulders and is a player with the kind of quality required to shine on an evening such as this. Stefan Johansen has had a poor season and really needs to start becoming more of a creative force. He was anonymous in Molde. It remains a mystery that Kris Commons was taken off while he remained on the park. He must deliver this evening.
TACTICAL BATTLE
Molde are going to set up to hit on the break. They are going to defend and defend in numbers. Top of the group as things stand, a draw would probably suit them.
Deila has to figure out how to break them down without leaving his side exposed at the back. They failed completely to deal with Molde’s counterattacking philosophy in the first game between the sides and need a new strategy.
SCORE PREDICTION
Celtic 1 Molde 0
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