What the press in Norway said on Celtic's defeat to 'devilishly stylish' Bodo/Glimt

Bodo/Glimt are taking a 3-1 advantage back to Scandinavia from Scotland for next week’s UEFA Conference League second leg with Celtic – and they’ll land in Norway met with an array of superlatives for their display in Glasgow.

‘Fantastic fun’, ‘devlishly stylish’ and cool to watch’ are all among the home media for the Eliteserien champions’ reports from Thursday night – ‘the best starting point’ for the return leg, according to Dagbladet.

News outlet VG caught up with two former players Fredrik André Bjørkan and Marius Lode to watch the game and it was Bjorkan who called the match ‘cool to watch’, adding a warning to Celtic: “I think they have a tough task ahead of them. I think they understand that now.”

The hosts were credited with an aggressive start and ‘set the tone initially with high pressure, but it was the yellow-clad from Bodo who opened the goal record in Scotland,’ Dagsavisen added.

Scorer Runar Espejord called it ‘fantastic fun’.

Mats Arntzen, for Aftenposten, wrote ‘the home team pressed in the first half and created pressure on the Glimt goal, but the big chances were missed'. He highlighted the role of Ola Solbakken who received a second-half ‘pipe concert by Celtic fans after lying down and complaining to the assistant referee that the game was not stopped. Given a clear message by Kjetil Knutsen to focus on the match, he responded to the charge: Two quick overtaking faints followed by a small touch and subsequent tunnel, before he played the ball across in front of goal.’ VG added: “When Pellegrino put in 2-0, it was completely quiet among the home fans. Then you could hear the Glimt fans all the way home in the thousands of homes.”

Solbakken’s goal celebration included a finger on the lips ‘and hissed at the home fans – who were already silent after the shock at Celtic Park.’

Boss Knutsen paid tribute to the atmosphere in the ground, ‘When it comes to atmosphere, this is at least the rawest I have been involved in’ he said but the raised expectation from Daizen Maeda’s late goal when ‘Celtic Park smelled blood’ was wiped when Hugo Vetlesen sent a ‘parabolic arc over Joe Hart’ for the third.

Celtic's Jota is left dejected during a UEFA Conference League Last 32 first leg match. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

“We have done something right when people leave after 80 minutes," Pellegrino added.

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