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Rosenborg
The Norwegian champions are already 17 games into their Eliteserien season and look likely to hold onto their title having built up a five point lead over second-placed Sarpsborg 08.
It's fair to say that the schedule of the Norwegian season gives the likes of Rosenborg something of an advantage at this stage of the Champions League. While most other teams across Europe are still playing pre-season friendlies and looking to build their fitness, Rosenborg are more than halfway through their domestic season.
It was perhaps bad luck then that Rosenborg should have drawn Dundalk in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, as the Irish team are also well into their season. It's took an extra time winner from Matthias Vilhjalmsson to separate the teams over two legs.
Rosenborg can be happier with their 0-0 away draw with Celtic in the first-leg of this tie, though it does allow the Scots to progress with a score draw. They will be disadvantaged by the absence of the experienced Norwegian international Tore Reginiussen who is out with injury, but could welcome back his fellow Norway star Pal Andre Helland after an absence of three weeks.
Celtic
Brendan Rodgers' side had such a brilliant last season on the domestic stage, that any progress can only really be measured by success in the Champions League.
Celtic were unfortunate enough to be drawn alongside Barcelona and Manchester City having made the group stage last season. Though they drew both games against City and earned a very useful away draw at Borussia Monchengladbach, the failure to record a single win saw them finish bottom of the group and crash out of Europe.
It would be a bitter blow then for Rodgers if Celtic were to go out of this competition before the Play-Off round. Gaining an away score draw should not be beyond them, with Celtic having scored six past Linfield in the two legs of the previous round and thrashing Sunderland by a 5-0 scoreline in an away friendly at the weekend.
The out of favour forward Nadir Ciftci featured against Sunderland, as Rodgers looked at alternative attacking options after both Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths missed the first-leg of this tie through injury. Griffiths could feature if he can shake off a calf issue, but defenders Dedryk Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko are both out.
Match Odds
Celtic are the favourites at 2.54, with Rosenborg out at 3.05 and the draw priced at 3.50.
Considering that Rosenborg may be happy to let their superior fitness prove vital by drawing 0-0 and sending the match into extra time, while a score draw will be enough for Celtic, the odds on a stalemate look much too big.
If you fancy Celtic to grab a win, their odds are large enough to make the Double Chance at 1.47 and the Draw No Bet at 1.81 decent options. Celtic are 1.58 in the To Qualify market.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Under 2.5 goals is the favourite at 1.83, with overs at 2.08.
That's fair considering the injury problems that Celtic are experiencing. Unders looks the likelier outcome, with three of Rosenborg's last four games having produced less than three goals.
To Score
If fit enough to play, Griffiths looks a tasty bet at 2.60 to find the net. Of his 18 goals from last season, five came in European competition.
For Rosenborg, Nicklas Bendtner leads the betting 3.25 but that's surely down to his fame, than a season in which he has only scored six goals in 21 games. Rosenborg's top scorer is the aforementioned Vilhjalmsson with 15 goals and he looks a much better bet at 3.50.
Recommended Bets
Back the draw between Rosenborg and Celtic at 3.50
Back under 2.5 goals between Rosenborg and Celtic at 1.83
Back Leigh Griffiths to score at 2.60
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