RB Leipzig made it a double over Celtic who needed to swallow one other Champions League defeat. The Germans left Parkhead with a 2-0 victory due to objectives from ex-Chelsea striker Timo Werner and Swedish sub Emil Forsberg.
The consequence leaves Ange Postecoglou’s facet with a mountain to climb in Group F. The Hoops now sit backside of the desk, 5 factors behind Leipzig, with Madrid and Leipzig occupying the highest spots. Identical to in Germany per week in the past, Celtic had probabilities to attain however have been profligate in entrance of purpose and paid the worth. Within the opening 45 minutes, Matt O’Riley hit the put up and Greg Taylor hit the crossbar as Postecoglou’s males pinned the Bundesliga facet again.
Kyogo Furuhashi additionally had an opportunity to interrupt the impasse from a Sead Haksabanovic cross however fired his header over. Celtic and Postecoglou would rue these misses after the break. On 75 minutes, Marco Rose’s crew obtained their noses in entrance.
Werner - deemed to be a flop at Stamford Bridge - steered a superb header past Joe Hart to silence the house crowd. That knocked the stuffing out of Celtic who needed to push ahead for an equaliser. Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis each missed probabilities in entrance of purpose earlier than the Germans put the sport to mattress late on.
This time £25 million man Werner was the creator as he teed up Forsber who produced a managed end into the highest nook that wrapped up the purpose for the guests. Celtic face Shakhtar subsequent at Parkhead and that recreation is now a must-win for the Scottish champions in the event that they’re to have any probability of staying in Europe past the brand new 12 months. Here is 5 speaking factors from Parkhead.
No Holds Barred
With out skipper Callum McGregor - and in opposition to high quality opposition - Ange Postecoglou should have been tempted to play a holding midfielder in opposition to RB Leipzig.
And his squad isn’t precisely wanting anchor males who may have sat deep in entrance of his again 4. However it in all probability goes in opposition to all the Celtic gaffer’s rules to go along with a defensive minded participant only for the sake of it, particularly at Parkhead.
So as a substitute, he left Oliver Abildgard, Aaron Mooy and James McCarthy on the bench in opposition to the Germans. Postecoglou went for an attacking 4-2-4 system, much like the one Liverpool have used of their previous few video games.
At occasions, there have been gaps and his center duo of Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate have been stretched. However you'll be able to’t assist however admire Postecoglou’s bravery - not simply in going for the Bundesliga facet’s throats - however trusting his gamers to not be over-run in such an offensive system.
Missed alternatives
It’s one of many oldest adages in soccer - if you’re on high in a recreation you must rating. However Celtic have been responsible, not for the primary time this season, of not doing that in opposition to the Germans.
As anticipated, Postecoglou’s facet have been quick out of the traps. And when it comes to probabilities created, that they had the higher of an open first 45 minutes. However they have been profligate in entrance of purpose and in the event that they proceed in that vein - notably in opposition to high quality opponents - they’re certain to pay the worth.
It was an identical story in Leipzig final week. And within the first half final evening, they actually must have been in entrance. Daizen Maeda had a good probability after 50 seconds that he headed over then Kyogo and Greg Taylor had golden alternatives to attain.
The total-back had one effort blocked when he ought to have examined the keeper then scuffed a rebound after Matt O’Riley had hit the put up and his shot bounced off the crossbar. Kyogo obtained on the tip of a Sead Haksabanovic cross earlier than half-time however his header flew over, leaving the Celtic supervisor scratching his head as to why they weren’t in entrance.
Jota loss
There’s little question that Celtic lacked a little bit of spark on their left flank final evening as they felt the lack of Portuguese winger Jota. The Hoops devoted have been hopeful that he’d be match after Ange Postecoglou refused to rule him out, regardless of being absent from coaching on Monday.
However the £6 million wasn’t even on the bench they usually have been at all times going to endure with out a participant of his high quality. Daizen Maeda was provided that berth in entrance of Greg Taylor and the Japanese extensive man put a hell of a shift in.
He grafted all evening for the crew however he doesn’t have the identical poise or guile as Jota. The previous Benfica star is able to producing a chunk of magic, the form of which may have determined such a decent Champions League tie.
It stays to be seen how lengthy Jota can be sidelined for however accidents are starting to creep up on Celtic. Already with out Jota and Callum McGregor, Liel Abada additionally limped off final evening in opposition to the Germans. The Israeli, together with Jota, have been Postecoglou’s first-choice wingers for giant video games so he received’t wish to be lacking them for too lengthy.
Prime Werner
He’s been deemed not ok for Chelsea and since shifting to the UK he’s taken loads of stick. However German striker Timo Werner confirmed he hasn’t misplaced his goalscoring instincts along with his lethal end at Parkhead final evening.
He was prolific for Leipzig earlier than incomes an enormous transfer to Stamford Bridge and has now returned to his homeland after failing to set the Premier League alight. At occasions, Werner flatters to deceive up entrance.
And his doubters in England felt he was too powder puff to chop it at Chelsea. However he appears like he’s discovering his ft once more again on mortgage at RB and in Glasgow final evening, he was a continuing risk.
Even within the first half, Werner was discovering pockets of house between Celtic’s strains and initiated a variety of their counter assaults. He wasted one probability on the break early on however he saved at it.
And with quarter-hour to go, when Andre Silva obtained to the byline - Werner was the one participant on the pitch who learn the pull-back completely. His brilliantly positioned header gave Joe Hart no probability and caught a dagger into the hearts of Celtic followers.
Shakhtar shock
As if the consequence at Celtic Park wasn’t dangerous sufficient for supporters to abdomen, a scoreline in Warsaw sickened them additional.mA defeat to Leipzig at dwelling was at all times going to be damaging to the Hoops’ hopes of progressing from Group F.
However Shakhtar Donetsk’s shock draw in opposition to Actual Madrid was a shock - they usually have been on the verge of a victory that will have surprised the entire of Europe and been even worse. That might have put Celtic out of Europe however they now at the very least have an opportunity of third place however need to up their recreation.
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