FULL TIME
Goals and Highlights: Celtic 2-0 AIK, 2019 UEFA Europa League
Celtic 2-0 AIK: Highlights
Thank you
Thank you for following tonight's game. Hopefully, you will have enjoyed it as much as Neil Lennon and his team will have.
We will be back with more action at the weekend and you can keep up to date with all things football right here at VAVEL UK.
Ajer: Man of the Match?
The stadium announcer just gave the man of the match award to Ajer. The big Norwegian had a good game but there were a number of good performances in the Celtic side with Edouard and Christie deserving of praise too.
Full-time: Celtic 2-0 AIK
Celtic will be delighted to have a two-goal lead from tonight. They played well and deserved the win. The tie probably isn't completely over at 2-0 but it's a fantastic advantage for Neil Lennon's men.
90' 3 minutes added on.
Sub!
Lundstrom goes off and Rashidi comes on for the Swedish side.
Sub!
84' Edouard goes off and it's an opportunity for Bayo to get a brief run out.
84' Treble save from Linner in the AIK goal. Ntcham shoots from distance and he stops it before making saves from Edouard and Morgan on the follow-up.
Sub!
Celtic make a double change as Ntcham and Morgan come on for Forrest and Johnston.
81' Edouard frees McGregor down the left and the Scot carries it goalwards but his shot is just wide.
78' Celtic earn a corner after good play from Forrest to free the overlapping Ajer. His cross is cut out though. AIK struggle to clear but it eventually goes out for a goal kick.
Sub!
Between the free-kick award and the goal, AIK made a change. Sigthorsson came off and Obasi replaced him.
GOAL! Celtic 2-0 AIK
72' Mikey Johnston is fouled by Granli in a dangerous area. Edouard takes the free-kick from 25 yards and he puts it up over the wall and beyond the keeper. 2-0 Celtic!
71' Celtic have slowed down a lot. I doubt they're settling for a 1-0 win so perhaps it's time for Lennon to make a change.
Sub!
Bahoui is subbed and Saletros comes on to replace him.
69' The players are taking an opportunity to grab a drink as Bahoui receives treatment.
68' Celtic get a cross into the box and the keeper is hunting butterflies but it's too far ahead of Edouard and goes out for a throw-in.
66' Bahoui meets a cross from the left but he's under it and can only loop it in the air and Gordon collects it easily.
60' An hour gone and the tempo has slowed over the last five minutes. AIK look like they'd be happy at 1-0 and Celtic are perhaps catching their breath for another onslaught.
52' AIK get forward and an attempted cross from the left is deflected out for a corner. Larsson takes an inswinger but it beats everyone and it's a Celtic throw-in.
51' Great run from Christie and he curls a shot goalwards from the right wing. The keeper gets down well and makes the stop.
GOAL! Celtic 1-0 AIK
James Forrest gets the benefit of a deflection that puts him one on one with the keeper. His shot is powerful and the keeper gets his hands on it but he can't keep it out and the Hoops are ahead.
46' Back underway
Half Time: Celtic 0-0 AIK
Celtic have been the better side but it remains goalless. They have 45 minutes left if they are to take an advantage to Stockholm next week.
If they can play as well as that, they will expect to score in the second half.
Yellow!
Bolingoli goes in the book this time. It's another case of being on the wrong side and tugging the attacker back to take one for the team.
43' Bolingoli gets to the touchline and clips a dangerous ball in but there's nobody there.
39' Johnston shows good feet to get past several players. A defender gets a foot on it but it's still dangerous and the keeper has to rush out to clear before making a theatrical dive which the referee swallows.
Yellow!
37' Larsson goes into the book after a foul on Christie. The youngster was getting away from him and Larsson showed his experience by ensuring he didn't get too far.
35' AIK get forward and win a corner. Larsson puts a good ball in and Sigthorsson produces a good bit of skill before shooting but Ajer gets in the way and it's cleared.
Celtic Signing
Celtic love a transfer deal during a game. This time it's an incoming transfer. Fraser Forster has returned to the club on a season-long loan.
29' Another penalty shout from Celtic. Bolingoli laid the ball off to McGregor who tried a shot that's blocked. Celtic think it hit a hand but the ref waves it away again.
27' The resulting corner brings about a loud shout from the hosts for a penalty. It looks like Jullien headed the ball onto the arm of an AIK defender who had his back to goal. The defender knew little about it and the ref isn't interested.
26' Brown finds Edouard with a pass through the lines and he turns his defender before firing a shot from 20 yards. The keeper is alert and does well to turn it away.
The keeper is now receiving treatment for a wrist injury which suggests how powerful Edouard's shot was.
25' It's a game of one half here at the moment. Celtic are playing some good football but AIK is defending relatively well. However, they cannot get a foot on the ball and Celtic are launching wave after wave of attacks.
20' What a chance! Celtic play some superb football with Christie and Bolingoli combining to set up Johnston. The youngster hits a shot from about 8 yards out but it takes a deflection and goes just wide.
19' Ajer drives into the box and blasts a cross into the six-yard box but AIK gets it away. Celtic are taking control now.
18' Good work from Johnston as he runs right across the edge of the box beating man after man but he's crowded out as he tries to shoot. The loose ball almost falls to him afterwards but AIK gets it away.
16' Celtic have the ball in the net as Christie plays Edouard in but the flag is up. That looked tight but the linesman was in no doubt.
15' Scare at the back for Celtic. Simunovic miscontrols a high ball in an area that he really should have been heading it. The loose ball scoots away goalwards but Gordon is alert and clears it.
12' AIK enjoy a spell of possession after Brown gives the ball away but they end up losing it due to a loose Lindqvist pass.
Not much happening as both teams look to control the midfield.
8' Bizarre scenes as Mikey Johnston is kicked and then tugged on the edge of the box but the referee waves play on.
7' Celtic enjoying a lot of the ball and have had a corner in the early stages but no chances of note.
0' We are underway.
Five minutes to go
We are almost ready for the teams now.
No previous meetings
These sides have never met before in European competition but Celtic have a reasonable record against Swedish sides lately.
Helsingborgs and Elfsborg were both defeated in Champions League qualifiers but in their last game against a Swedish team, they were eliminated by Malmo in the qualifiers for the 2015/16 Champions League.
Thoughts on the game?
Who do you see winning the game? Celtic are surely favourites but are they over the shock of losing to CFR Cluj in the Champions League last week?
Let us know your thoughts on Twitter, @VAVEL_EuroFoot.
Ajer the danger?
Kristoffer Ajer is showing himself to be an excellent footballer for Celtic. The big Norwegian can play midfield, centre-back or right-back.
Ideally, he would marshall the defence but having a six-foot-five fullback running down the wing brings its own dangers and when he has played right-back, he has generally been a real danger.
Do or die for the Celts?
There's been a sense of dread and apathy around this game among the Celtic fanbase. The Champions League is the one they want and the fans are rightly upset that they won't be in it this season.
That said, the Europa League is still a good opportunity for Celtic. They had some big games in the competition last season with a win against RB Leipzig and a knockout tie with Valencia.
Match Preview
With 25 minutes until kick-off, have a read at this match preview from Barry Spence.
Ajer fit to play
Celtic will be pleased that Kristoffer Ajer is fit to play. He had been listed as doubtful after going off injured at the weekend but he is fit and will start at right-back. Jozo Simunovic and Christoper Jullien will be the centre-backs. Bolingoli-Mbombo will play left-back and in midfield, there are no surprises with Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie, Johnston all starting behind Edouard who will be the lone striker.
AIK XI
Kvällens AIK-elva i Play off-matchen till Europa League mot Celtic FC. Avspark kl 20:45 (svensk tid) på Celtic Park.
Inte på plats? @FollowUsAIK sänder matchen via https://t.co/wMbC9mKQvJ pic.twitter.com/e5uT6VJfl6 — AIK Fotboll (@aikfotboll) August 22, 2019
Celtic XI
📋 #CELAIK team news...
Our starting line-up for tonight's @EuropaLeague play-off first leg 💪
Come on the Hoops! 🍀⚪️ pic.twitter.com/lKv5hMbNMN — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 22, 2019
Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us for all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for this Celtic vs AIK match.
Rikard Noring won't ask Johan Mjallby for Celtic advice
Mjallby is a close friend of both managers. He grew up with AIK boss Noring in Sweden and the two are lifelong friends. Mjallby also played for AIK and won two league titles. He was also a team mate of Neil Lennon’s at Celtic before working as his assistant manager during his first tenure as Celtic manager.
“I have such a respect for Johan and I know how much he cares for Celtic and AIK. Johan loves both clubs in equal measure – I know he does.”
Neil Lennon wants to prosper in the Europa League
Lennon was in a bullish mood in his press conference and was quick to dismiss any talk of disaster at Celtic.
“There’s a narrative going round that we are maybe a bit off colour. We’re absolutely not. We’re fine. Hopefully the players can go out and show that.”
He went onto praise the Europa League by saying;
“It’s a big disappointment to be out of the Champions League, we know that. But the Europa League is a very good competition that, hopefully, we can prosper in.”
How to watch Celtic vs AIK Live TV and Stream
You cannot watch the game on TV as nobody took up the rights.
If you want to directly stream it: Celtic TV will be showing the game to all subscribers except for those in Scandinavia.
If you want to watch it on the internet, VAVEL UK is your best option!
AIK: Predicted XI
Linner, Lundstrom, Karlsson, Mets, Granli, Larsson, Adu, Saletros, Lindkvist, Sigthorsson, Goitom.
Celtic: Predicted XI
Gordon; Ralston, Bitton, Jullien, Bolingoli-Mbombo; Brown, MacGregor; Forrest, Christie, Johnston; Edouard.
AIK: Team news
AIK have their own selection issues ahead of the game in Glasgow. Attacking duo Tarik Elyounoussi and Nabil Bahoui will both miss out with Elyounoussi suspended and Bahoui injured.
Celtic: Team news
Celtic will be without Scott Bain and Hatem Abd Elhamed through injury while Kristoffer Ajer is also a doubt after picking up a knock at the weekend. Australian midfielder, Tom Rogic is back in training but is unlikely to feature due to a lack of match fitness.
AIK aiming for a group stage return
Europe hasn't been particularly kind to AIK in recent seasons. They have quite often been in the early rounds but the last time they were in Europe beyond August was 2012.
On that occasion they were drawn into a group with Napoli, PSV Eindhoven and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. They won at home to PSV and drew away but they lost their other four games and were elimianted.
Celtic look to bounce back
Last weeks 4-3 loss to CFR Cluj meant Celtic will miss out on a spot in the Champions League for a second season running. Missing out on the Champions League is huge for Celtic as the money they bring in from Europe's premier competition is a huge part of their annual income.
Missing out will hurt the Celtic player, staff and fans but there's no time to dwell on that loss as they need to stay in Europe for as long as possible and while it's not where they want to be, the Europa League group stage is the second prize that they must earn.
Both of these sides had higher aspirations when the summer began. Having won their domestic league titles they were aiming for the lucrative Champions League group stages but losses to Maribor and CFR Cluj has seen them drop into the Europa League and they will not try to reach the group stages with a win in this tie.
Kick-off time
The Celtic vs AIK Stockholm match will be played at Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland. The kick-off is scheduled at 7:45pm BST.
Welcome to VAVEL.com's LIVE coverage of the 2019 UEFA Europa League match: Celtic vs AIK Stockholm!
My name is Gerry Johnston and I'll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.