Champions League: Brattbakk haunts Hoops

Rosenborg 2, Celtic 0 (half-time)

Harald Brattbakk came back to haunt Celtic tonight with a first-half double that threatens to leave his former side's Champions League dream in tatters.

But it could have been even worse for Martin O'Neill's men as Bent Skammelsrud missed a penalty.

Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton recovered from illnesses in time for the Champions League clash with Rosenborg.

Saturday's hat-trick man John Hartson therefore drops to the bench.

Bulgarian star Stilian Petrov also returned to the side after being rested at the weekend and he replaced Lubo Moravcik.

Rosenborg showed one change from the side which lost at Parkhead with Christer George replacing Bent Inge Johnsen.

The opening exchanges were scrappy, but there were encouraging signs for the visitors early on from Didier Agathe on the right flank, while Sutton almost played Petrov through on goal after four minutes.

The England man then had the chance to test Arni Gauter Arason two minutes later after Erik Hoftun's poor clearance, but he pulled his right-foot shot well wide of the mark.

But Celtic had to do some vital defending in the ninth minute after Bobo Balde's clumsy challenge on Harald Brattbakk. The former Parkhead striker then swung in a dangerous cross which Joos Valgaeren had to head behind for a corner.

Brattbakk could have hurt his former team-mates in the 17th minute after Balde failed to clear, but he snatched at the chance and blazed his volley wide from close range.

However, Brattbakk did make Celtic pay on 19 minutes. Janne Saarinen's long ball was headed down by Sigurd Rushfeldt and the Norwegian striker fired low and into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Agathe again got away from Saarinen in the 25th minute, but Celtic failed to capitalise as Hoftun made a vital tackle with Sutton waiting to pounce at the back post.

But it looked as though more goals would come from the Norwegians and Robert Douglas had to save Roar Strand's stinging long-range shot at the second attempt after good work by Orjan Berg to tee him up.

Celtic, however, did fall further behind in the 36th minute and it was Brattbakk again who made them pay. Berg got away from Neil Lennon before passing to Rushfeldt's, whose shot was saved by Douglas - but the striker coolly took his time before picking his spot to double his side's lead.

Celtic were unfortunate not to go even further behind in the 43rd minute when Balde was adjudged to have fouled Brattbakk in the box, but Douglas dived to his right to brilliantly save Bent Skammelsrud's penalty.

Ole Christer Basma was booked for dissent a minute later and Larsson curled the free-kick over the bar.