Celtic striker Griffiths set to fire first again in Malmo CL play-off

Leigh Griffiths has scored first in three of his last four Celtic appearances, so Coral’s enhanced matchday special wincast at 4/1 is well worth considering for their Champions League play-off second leg match in Malmo.

Ronny Deila’s Bhoys hold a 3-2 aggregate lead going into this return game in Sweden, and are 17/10 to win in 90 minutes, but odds-on at 8/15 to reach the group stage. A draw (12/5) will also take the Glasgow giants through.

Hosts Malmo, meanwhile, are 6/4 for a second leg victory in normal time, and the same price to send Celtic crashing out before the group stage of Europe’s elite club competition.

The Bhoys have one or two doubts in defence; Sweden right back Mikael Lustig hurt him hamstring in the first leg and star centre half Virgil van Dijk continues to be linked with Southampton.

Assistant boss John Collins said first of Lustig: “He’s made a lot of progress in the last few days. We’ll give him right up to the last minute to see if he can make it. I think it’s safe to say he’s 50-50.”

On Van Dijk, he added: “Virgil’s 100 per cent ready to play the game, I have no doubt about that. I thought he was terrific last week in the first leg. I’m hopeful he’ll be here long term. He’s a huge player for us and he’ll be ready.”

Nigeria’s Efe Ambrose or summer signing Saidy Janko are in contention to replace Lustig if he cannot prove his fitness. Up top, Celtic leading light Griffiths is also worth a go to carry on his run of grabbing the opener at a nifty 9/2.

Israel international Nir Bitton, meanwhile, has scored twice in his last three appearances, including against Malmo in the first leg, so is a superb 7/1 anytime shout here.

Bhoys old boy Jo Inge Berget kept the hosts in this tie with two goals in Glasgow. A repeat performance of a brace or better does seem rather far-fetched at 9/1, but anytime odds of 7/4 are certainly worth considering.