FORMER Celtic defender Vidar Riseth expects a close encounter when his old side face Bodo/Glimt in the first knockout phase of the Europa Conference League.

The Norwegian centre-half spent two years at Parkhead as a player between 1998 and 2000 and watched on as Glimt hammered Jose Mourinho's Roma 6-1 earlier this season.

The back-to-back Norwegian champions were yesterday paired alongside Celtic in the play-off round for the last 16 of the new tournament, and Riseth believes Ange Postecoglou and his players could be in for a tricky encounter over two legs when the tie gets under way in February - thanks to their blistering attack.

"They are playing offensive 4-3-3 football and you might be better asking Mourinho what he thinks about them," he told the Daily Record.

“When they played against Mourinho’s team, they had no respect for them.

“They just played brilliant football and they were also good in Italy.

“In the 6-1 game, Mourinho said beforehand that he had watched Bodo/Glimt on the tapes and he knew they were going to meet a good team. But even then he was really surprised by everyone.

“Bodo/Glimt is the new Rosenborg of Norwegian football. They have been playing so well in the past two years and have a coach who is terrific.

“He’s been building up an amazing team and they are so good. It’s a dream to watch because they are dangerous. I like the offensive play.

“They have many young players, yet many are into the national team with Norway and, at the moment, they have no respect for anyone when they go out onto a pitch. They feel they can beat anyone.”