Elfsborg v Celtic: Bhoys win and Under 2.5 goals the way to go

The spadework is done for Celtic after they finally managed to break Elfsborg’s resistance in the first leg at Parkhead and now they can squeeze the life out of the tie on the road.

Winning a home leg 1-0 is never a bad thing in continental competition given the perils that can lie in store from conceding an away goal and Celtic will be confident they can progress from this position.

Now they have that one-goal insurance to take to the home of the Swedish champions Neil Lennon’s Bhoys will be looking to follow the blueprint of last season’s qualifiers, where they twice recorded 2-0 victories on the road, first over HJK Helsinki and subsequently Helsingborgs.

Celtic have actually averaged two goals per game in their opening four matches of the season and the Hoops achieving that same 2-0 scoreline can be backed at 10/3.

For those punters less bold however, the fewer than 2.5 goals line could offer a comfort blanket at 3/4.

Given the laboured nature of the first leg – where the visitors could not even muster a shot on Celtic’s goal – it’s difficult to imagine Elfsborg summoning a new-found creativity in the Boras Arena.

Lennon’s troops have proved in the past they have what it takes to park the proverbial bus and hit teams on the counter attack.

Combining the theory therefore that Celtic have the necessary know-how to keep things tight, while possessing the attacking tools to nick a goal or two at the other end, the Celtic to win and under 2.5 goals to be scored in the match at 17/4 looks like it could be the perfect market to expose.

Meanwhile, in the absence of the freshly vamoosed Gary Hooper who has gone to seek his fortunes further south, the search for likely Celtic goal scorers leads to the door of Georgios Samaras.

The Greek striker was rested for Celtic’s opening league game, but with two European goals to his name already this term, look the pick at 9/4.