TEAM NEWS
Helsingborgs have signed Serbian striker Nikola Djuridic ahead of the match on loan from Norwegian club Haugesund. He is likely to replace Icelandic forward Alfred Finnbogason, who has signed for Dutch side Heerenveen. Djuridic will play alongside former Haugesund team-mate Thomas Sorum. The Swedish champions are without injured midfielder Mattias Lindström (thigh), and have further concerns over goalkeeper Pär Hansson (tonsillitis), Loret Sadiku (groin), Erik Wahlstedt (ankle), Erik Edman (calf) and Erlend Hanstveit (sciatica).
Celtic are hopeful skipper Scott Brown will be fit for the match while Gary Hooper, Paddy McCourt and James Forrest should be available for selection. Thomas Rogne is set to replace Kelvin Wilson at the heart of the Celtic defence. South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng is expected to tie up his £6 million move to Swansea before the match.
MANAGER QUOTES
Age Hareide (Helsingborgs): "The most important thing is not to let Celtic score an away goal. That is the key to the tie. If they do score it will be very difficult for us. I have seen Celtic against Helsinki and against Aberdeen and they are a good team, a hard-working side. We don't necessarily need to take a lead to Parkhead. We had a good experience in Poland in the second qualifier, we did really well there and we defend well when we stick together. Celtic are favourites, they are a big club with good players. But expectations are high in Helsingborg with regards to Europe and the fans will be behind us at home."
Neil Lennon (Celtic) “I think I went into the Helsinki game with more trepidation. This one I’m more excited about and I’m more comfortable with us, albeit it I know the significance of the game. I know how big it is for us and that we’re almost there, but these are tough, tough games."
MATCH STATS
Helsingborgs are hoping to roll back the years to the turn of the millennium and their only previous qualification for the group stage, achieved following a shock victory over FC Internazionale Milano.
Helsingborgs claimed Inter's scalp in the 2000/01 third qualifying round after Michael Hansson's solitary goal in the first leg in Sweden settled the tie. Today's Helsingborg squad includes four players who featured against Inter – Christoffer Andersson, Álvaro and Erik Wahlstedt, who started both matches, and Mattias Lindström, a late substitute at the San Siro.
Helsingborgs have had less luck in qualifiers recently, missing out on the Europa League group stage in 2009/10 and 2011/12. Their last run in Europe of note was to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup in 2007/08.
Celtic are looking to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2008/09 season, since when they have lost to Arsenal FC in the 2009/10 play-offs and SC Braga in the 2010/11 third qualifying round.
European Cup winners in 1967, Celtic have contested six campaigns in the modern Champions League but they have never faced Swedish opposition before.
This will be Helsingborgs's first competitive meeting with Scottish opponents.
Two clubs with a common hero will compete for a place in the Champions League when Helsingborgs host Celtic FC in the first leg of their play-off.
Henrik Larsson remains an icon to both Helsingborgs and Celtic supporters and his sea-front statue in the town, his birthplace, will doubtless be a must-see for the travelling Scottish fans.
Helsingborgs have got this far thanks to victories over The New Saints FC (3-0 agg) and WKS Śląsk Wrocław (6-1 agg) while Celtic beat HJK Helsinki 4-1 in their third qualifying round tie.
Henrik Larsson hit 242 goals in 315 competitive appearances for Celtic between 1997 and 2004 during a career which featured two spells with Helsingborgs – first from 1992-93 and then from 2006-09. When Larsson hung up his boots, Helsingborgs retired his No17 shirt.
As Norway coach, Helsingborgs boss Åge Hareide oversaw a 0-0 draw in Scotland in 2010 World Cup qualifying in which Celtic's Scott Brown featured for the home side.
Celtic's Mikael Lustig was in Sweden's EURO 2012 squad with Helsingborgs's Pär Hansson and is a former Under-21 colleague of Walid Atta. Atta, meanwhile, was briefly a team-mate of Celtic's Mohamed Bangura at AIK Solna in 2010.
Helsingborgs's Erik Edman played for Sweden alongside Celtic's assistant coach Johan Mjällby – both were in their country's Euro 2004 squad.
Celtic's Giorgos Samaras was in the Greece side beaten 2-0 by Sweden at EURO 2008.
Helsingborgs reserve goalkeeper Daniel Andersson played in Scotland for Hibernian FC from 2003-04. He appeared in five matches against Celtic, losing four of them – including a 6-0 drubbing at Celtic Park.
Helsingborgs's new recruit Alejandro Bedoya spent last season with Celtic's rivals Rangers FC.
Alfred Finnbogason, who ended his loan spell at Helsingborgs when joining Heerenveen on 16 August, spent part of his childhood in Edinburgh while his father studied in the city and played football for the reputed boys' club Hutchison Vale as well as regularly attending matches at Hibs' Easter Road stadium.
MATCH ODDS
Helsingborgs (9/5), Celtic (9/5), Draw (23/10)
