Celtic suffered more Europa League pain as Spanish side Celta Vigo came from behind to win 2-1 at Parkhead.
After defeats by Ferencvaros and Benfica in their first two league phase fixtures, Martin O’Neill’s side struggled to impose themselves on the visitors who were neat and tidy without really testing Hoops keeper Sam Johnstone.
Germany midfielder Mika Baur fired the home side in front just over a minute into the second half to thrill the Celtic fans but Spain defender Javi Rodriguez scored twice in three minutes – a header then an unstoppable drive – to stun the home side who could not find a way back.
It was another damaging Euro night for the Scottish champions, knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by LASK on a 5-4 aggregate after being 4-0 up at one stage earlier in the season.
Celtic, four points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the William Hill Premiership, face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday but while they continue to thrive domestically, European football remains a tougher terrain.
The Hoops were hammered 4-1 by Benfica in Lisbon last Thursday but they responded in fine style with a 7-1 win over Hearts on Sunday, which offered encouragement.
Celtic’s ultras group, the Green Brigade, boycotted the game in protest at the running of the club, albeit there appeared to be only a couple of hundred empty seats, while 3,000 raucous Celta Vigo fans helped the noise as their side enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages.
The slick-moving visitors, eighth in LaLiga but having lost their opening two league phase games, grew further into the game and Celtic midfielder Baur was on hand to clear a drive across goal from Celta captain Iago Aspas.
In the 20th minute Parkhead wideman Haissem Hassan’s cross from the right found Camilo Duran but the Colombian striker headed straight at Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu. There was an unsuccessful Celtic penalty claim moments later when winger Callum Osmand went flying inside the box following a push.
The game took a turn less than two minutes after the restart when Hassan’s cross from the right did not quite find Duran but the ball broke to Baur and he drove the ball low past Radu from 16 yards.
The Spanish outfit stepped it up in response.
In the 52nd minute Celta’s midfielder Aleix Febas stabbed a cross from Sergio Carreira past the front post from close range and another chance was gone.
At the other end, Benjamin Nygren’s drive at the near post was beaten away by Radu before Osmand went off after picking up an injury, replaced by veteran winger James Forrest.
In the 63rd minute Celtic defender Liam Scales headed a cross from Hassan on to the bar and over and then O’Neill was booked by Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov for complaining about a decision – but he soon had more to be worried about.
When Hugo Alvarez whipped in a terrific free-kick from the right, Rodriguez bulleted a header through the hands of Johnstone.
The Hoops defence reeled from that blow and minutes later, when the ball was cleared to outside the box, the onrushing Rodriguez thundered in a strike from 20 yards to give Celta the lead – and ultimately the three points.
Share