Champions League marketing campaign over, Europa League hopes hanging by a thread. Celtic proceed to be taught solely harsh classes in opposition to a better customary of opponent than they ever encounter at residence.
Nobody might fairly declare Ange Postecoglou’s staff have been outplayed however the extra ruthless staff at every finish of the pitch prevailed. As Celtic attacked much more in hope than expectation, the sense grew that Leipzig would present them how it’s executed.
Timo Werner, lately so maligned, struck the preliminary blow to these in inexperienced and white. The substitute Emil Forsberg added gloss to Leipzig’s win. Celtic have been left to replicate upon a seventh residence Champions League group‑stage defeat in a row.
“I want the players to get the rewards for their endeavours,” Postecoglou stated. “I think we are close to becoming a very good team at this level. That process can’t be fast-tracked.”
Nobody attended this fixture considering they’d witness something approaching the mundane. The conflict final week in Germany, which Leipzig gained 3-1, was chaotically open. The sense of a rollercoaster experience was endorsed inside seconds of kick-off, as Daizen Maeda flicked Reo Hatate’s cross narrowly over the bar. Leipzig responded by way of Dominik Szoboszlai, who volleyed simply huge.
Celtic’s want to play on the entrance foot right here was dictated partly by the actual fact that they had treasured little possibility. Oliver Abildgaard, a defensive midfielder signed for events such as these, was not deemed match sufficient to begin. Matt O’Riley and Hatate, who’re each significantly more practical within the closing third than the opening one, needed to play as anchors. Leipzig spent the opening phases making an attempt to reveal Celtic’s forward-thinking instincts.
Instead, Celtic got here the nearer to a gap objective. O’Riley cracked a shot in opposition to a put up from 20 yards, with Greg Taylor’s try from the rebound bouncing off the crossbar. As Kyogo Furuhashi headed narrowly over, Celtic Park believed this Champions League marketing campaign had a pulse. These have been, nonetheless, to show pricey moments of generosity. “Missed chances, it’s the story of our campaign so far,” Postecoglou stated. “It’s the hardest part of the game. It’s about experience and composure at this level.”
Celtic – already minus the influential Jota and their captain, Callum McGregor, to damage – watched Liel Abada limp off earlier than the interval. Leipzig nearly rubbed salt within the wound; Joe Hart produced a wonderful save to disclaim the Chelsea-bound Christopher Nkunku.
Hart was known as into motion once more inside 5 minutes of the restart. After a spell through which Celtic failed again and again to clear their traces, the excellent Amandou Haidara threaded a move to Willi Orban. Hart smothered the centre-back’s low drive.
News that Shakhtar Donetsk had taken the lead in opposition to Real Madrid appeared to gas the ambiance. Three factors, fascinating earlier than a ball was kicked in opposition to Leipzig, all of the sudden felt a necessity.
Szoboszlai nearly piled on the agony. In a weird, sluggish movement second after being despatched via on objective he slipped on his bottom and proceeded to carry his head as if injured. Celtic mopped up the hazard as Szoboszlai clambered again to his toes with purple face.
Postecoglou rolled the cube. Furuhashi and Hatate, ordinarily key gamers, have been amongst three withdrawn. The arrival of Giorgos Giakoumakis instructed a extra direct method. This, at a time when Leipzig have been starting to tighten their grip on the sport. Mohamed Simakan was subsequent to hazard Hart’s objective, with a shot which flew excessive and huge of the goalkeeper’s upright.
Hart breathed a sigh of reduction after VAR adjudged he had not upended Nkunku contained in the penalty space. The ahead’s tempo in nearly reaching nothing greater than a hopeful move was fairly the sight however he was searching for the spot-kick lengthy earlier than tumbling to the turf.
The transient flurry of controversy quickly paled into insignificance. Werner, who had been comparatively quiet till that time, banged a header past Hart from an André Silva byline cut-back. It was an impressive objective.
O’Riley blasted a shot which stung the palms of Janis Blaswich. Giakoumakis fluffed his traces on the again put up. Enter Forsberg, who made no mistake when concluding a sweeping counterattack. Werner had turned creator. Yet one other second of brilliance summed up the distinction between two sides with differing aspirations.
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