Martin O'Neill wants Celtic to find a way to win in Europe, but after a third straight defeat, is the step up from domestic dominance too big for them? The Hoops are now 35th of 36 teams in the Europa League after a third loss, this time against Celta Vigo. Only Ararat-Armenia are keeping them off the bottom of the table on goal difference.
A 7-1 hammering of Hearts in the Premiership had offered some hope that Celtic were on the up. Instead, their European frailties were laid bare once again. Germany midfielder Mika Baur fired the home side in front just over a minute into the second half, and for a short spell it looked like Celtic could claim their elusive first three points. However, Spain international Javi Rodriguez scored twice in three minutes, a header then an unstoppable drive, to leave the Hoops with no points from nine in the league phase with five fixtures remaining.
O'Neill said his side had conceded a free-kick that knocked them off balance. "If [Liam] Scales' header goes in to make it 2-0, we get the three points," he said. "We've lost three matches now, remarkably we're still in with a chance [of progressing]. We've got to win here and got to win away from home."
Celtic looked all but certain to be playing Champions League this season when they took a 4-0 aggregate lead against Austrian champions LASK in the play-off round, only to concede five goals to drop into the Europa League. O'Neill's side have now lost their last four European matches while shipping 14 goals. Baur admitted the team is struggling at this level for now, adding: "At the moment, maybe we are not capable to win these games. But in two weeks, that's the next one, against Besiktas, home again."
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing