Celtic European hopes hit by 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt

Celtic face an uphill battle to progress in the Europa Conference League after suffering a 3-1 home defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the play-off round.

The Norwegian champions are in their close season but showed no signs of rustiness as they rattled Celtic with an early goal and went on to win with something to spare.

Joe Hart was forced to make saves in the early moments but couldn’t stop Runar Espejord from finishing off a composed attack with a neat finish after just seven minutes.

Celtic responded by getting on the front foot but were lacking a clinical finish to bring them level, with Daizen Maeda, Jota and Liel Abada all failing to make the most of chances in the first half.

Bodo/Glimt doubled their lead after 55 minutes after Ola Solbakken beat Greg Taylor to deliver a cross that Espejord flicked on and Amahl Pellegrino was on hand to score from close range.

The hosts gave themselves hope when Maeda headed in from a Josip Juranovic cross to pull a goal back but their joy only lasted a matter of seconds before the Norwegians responded.

Hugo Vetlesen chanced a strike from 25 yards and it spun off Callum McGregor and over Hart to make it 3-1 and leave Celtic with a difficult task when they travel north for the deciding leg next week.