Scottish Premiership champs Celtic are clear to feature in the UEFA Champions League playoff after seeing off Rosenborg in the third round of the qualifiers.
James Forrest’s 69th minute strike was enough to hand Brendan Rodgers men the advantage.
The first half of the second leg at Rosenborg was rather slow but the visitors created more chances. After the break, Rosenborg pressurized their guests. Celtic managed the pressure, getting the goal from the right in the 69th minute. Their rivals made last minute push but they could not get the equalizer.
Celtic would square up against Astana, Rijeka, Qarabag and either of Hapoel Beer Sheva or Slavia Prague in the next round. The Scottish side is expected to qualify from the playoff. They defeated the Israeli side Hapoel and Kazakh club Astana last year. Rijeka and Qarabag should be defeated as well.
Rodgers was careful in his team selection, opting to play Forrest as a central striker from his regular winger role. Leigh Griffiths was fit for the game but he was rested while Erik Sviatchenko played. Sviatchenko did not make it past the half hour mark as he was pulled put for injury when he collided with Anders Konradsen.
There were concerns ahead of the game but Rodgers plan of an extra week training paid off. The team is still trying to rediscover its potency that helped them to a treble last season. Full back Kieran Tierney set up Forrest in the early stage but keeper Hansen stopped the goal-bound effort. Jonny Hayes also sent a cross which Sviatchenko headed but former Arsenal man NicklasBendtner blocked it. Rosenborg started after the break strongly but they could not crack Celtic.