Reporting note: this article draws on Sky Sports; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Celtic Europa League campaign takes another hit
Celtic Europa League hopes took another blow at Celtic Park as Celta Vigo came from behind to win, inflicting a third straight defeat in the competition on the home side. Mika Baur had put Celtic ahead early in the second half, but Javi Rodriguez scored twice in three minutes to turn the match.
The result leaves Celtic as one of four clubs in the 36-team table yet to register a point. It came days after a 7-1 win over Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, and again showed how hard the club finds it to carry domestic dominance into European fixtures.
Rodriguez turns the night for Celta Vigo
Celta had the better of the chances. Colby Donovan cleared Javi Rueda's cross inside the first quarter of an hour, and Baur blocked an Iago Aspas effort at the other end. The flashpoint came on 23 minutes, when Callum Osmand went down under a push from Rueda as he ran into the box; the contact was just outside the area and the referee gave neither a penalty nor a free-kick. Camilo Duran was booked for his protests.
Osmand then sent a shot well over the bar after Duran failed to get his effort away, and Sam Johnstone saved from Ferran Jutgla before the interval. Aleix Febas met Sergio Carreira's low cross on 52 minutes but put it past the post.
Baur gave Celtic the lead two minutes after the restart, sweeping home a deflected cross from Haissem Hassan. Liam Scales headed Hassan's cross against the crossbar on 63 minutes.
Celta replied with two goals in three minutes. Rodriguez met a free-kick on 68 and headed beyond Johnstone, then punished a failure to clear on 72 with a drive from outside the box. Celtic's late response was thin: Forrest set up Donovan on 85, but the shot lacked power and was saved easily.
Key moments from Celtic Park
- 12 minutes: Colby Donovan clears Javi Rueda's cross as Celta look to open the scoring.
- 15: Mika Baur blocks Iago Aspas' effort.
- 23: Callum Osmand's penalty appeal is turned down; Camilo Duran is booked for protesting.
- 43: Osmand sends a shot well over the bar.
- 44: Sam Johnstone saves from Ferran Jutgla.
- 47: Baur scores from Haissem Hassan's deflected cross.
- 52: Aleix Febas meets Sergio Carreira's low cross and puts it past the post.
- 63: Liam Scales heads Hassan's cross against the crossbar.
- 68: Javi Rodriguez heads in a free-kick.
- 72: Rodriguez drives in from outside the box.
- 85: Forrest sets up Donovan, whose shot is saved.
What the table now says for Celtic
Celtic are among four clubs in the 36-team league phase still without a point, and Sky Sports' Luke Shanley, watching at Celtic Park, said their Europa League campaign is "all but over". He added that Celtic have now lost four European games in a row.
Shanley's reading was that Celta deserved the win and created many more chances. He said the home side's frustration will centre on failing to see out a lead, with two goals conceded in three minutes described as a hammer blow. On the free-kick that led to the equaliser, he suggested Martin O'Neill might not be happy with the award, but that Celtic needed to defend it better.
Hibernian away next for Celtic
Celtic remain four points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership. They face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday, with a 12pm kick-off live on Sky Sports.
The report does not set out Celtic's remaining European fixtures or a qualification target, so the table position is the firmest guide to what comes next in the competition.
The original report is by skysports.com.
