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Celtic manager Ronny Deila not scared of Champions League play-off at Malmo

Ronny Deila
Image: Ronny Deila is hopeful Celtic can progress into Champions League group stage

Ronny Deila does not fear the prospect of going to Malmo after a last-gasp goal from former Hoops loanee Jo Inge Berget dented Celtic's Champions League hopes as they squeezed out a 3-2 win at Parkhead.

Leigh Griffiths gave the Scottish champions the lead in the third minute of the play-off first leg before midfielder Nir Bitton headed in a second from a Stefan Johansen corner.

Berget, who had a short and unsuccessful loan spell at Parkhead last season, pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute with a wonderful volley before Griffiths headed in his second and sixth of the season in the 61st minute to make it 3-1 to Celtic.

But in the fifth of five added minutes, Berget scored from close range to make next week's return leg in Sweden more fraught than it ought to have been against a Malmo side who overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Salzburg in the previous round.

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Celtic ended the first leg of their Champions League play-off disappointed after conceding two away goals

However, Deila, who revealed right-back Mikael Lustig's hamstring injury "doesn't look well", said: "No, it doesn't scare me. I said they were a good team and it is small details that make you win or lose in European ties.

"We are ahead with one goal. Of course we can beat Malmo away. But they have to beat us and that is a positive thing.

Image: Leigh Griffiths celebrates third-minute opener

"They have to attack us and that can suit us.

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"I am disappointed, of course, to concede a goal in the last second but it happened. We are one goal ahead and they have to beat us in Malmo.

"It could be a better result but it was an okay result. They scored almost with the only two chances they had, which is disappointing but we have to see after the second leg.

Image: Nir Bitton celebrates Celtic's second against Maribor

"We played well at the start of the game, we were all over them and scored two goals, so it was a little bit disappointing in the end but I have belief that we can do it in Malmo."

On Berget returning to haunt the Hoops, Deila said: "It doesn't hurt more. That's how it is. The first goal was a very good shot, credit to him, but we should have stopped it before it got to him."

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