Champions League - More away misery for Celtic

Eurosport - Wed, 01 Oct 08:13:00 2008

Celtic's dismal away record in Europe continued as they were beaten 1-0 by Villarreal in El Madrigal to leave their Group E Champions League qualification hopes hanging in the balance.

FOOTBALL Liga de Campeones 2008-2009 Villarreal-Celtic de Glasgow Lee Naylor Giuseppe Rossi / Foto EFE - 0

Marcos Senna curled home a contentious second-half free-kick for the only goal of the game, and Celtic now have just one point from their opening two games, with a double header against defending champions Manchester United coming up next.

The result was Celtic's 16th away defeat out of 17 in the Champions League group stage.

The Scottish champions paid the price for an overly conservative game-plan which allowed Villarreal to dominate possession throughout.

However, things could have been different if Georgios Samaras had converted Celtic's best chance of the match just before the break.

Celtic tried to stifle their opponents by packing the midfield and playing Samaras as a lone striker and the plan seemed to work in the first-half.

Villarreal struggled to break down a well-drilled Celtic outfit and Joseba Llorente scuffed the hosts' best early chance after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area when Artur Boruc saved Giuseppe Rossi's initial effort.

Boruc also tipped over another Rossi chance but it should have really been Celtic in front at the break when Samaras was presented with a gift of a chance.

His man Diego Godin made a mess of a clearance and that left the in-form striker clear one-on-one with Diego Lopez.

However, the Greek tried a somewhat elaborate effort with the outside of his boot which Lopez saved when a powerful blast would have been more effective.

In the second-half, Celtic gradually started defending deeper and deeper and they were inviting shots on their goal.

They had one moment at the other end when Stephen McManus nearly turned in a Gary Caldwell header, but it was the hosts who were looking more and more dangerous and it was no surprise when they finally took the lead in the 67th minute.

Gordon Strachan will be furious with the referee after Llorente made a meal of a little trip from Paul Hartley but the free kick just outside the box was awarded.

There was still plenty for Senna to do though, but he dipped the ball over the wall superbly and into the corner of the net for a fine goal.

After the goal, Celtic brought on Scott McDonald and then later Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in a bid to change things, but other than a McDonald half-volley from the edge of the area that flew just over, that never looked likely.

Instead it was Villarreal who continued to dominate and Celtic needed a couple of smart saves from Boruc to keep the score down.

Next up for Celtic is a trip to Old Trafford, and another defeat there could leave them in a battle with Aalborg for a UEFA Cup place.

Seán Fay / Eurosport

Comment 12 - 31 of 31

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  1. To George (comment 25), I think you've hit the nail­ on the head. A fair comment and the draw at home­ probably will consign us to the UEFA Cup, although­ remember last season when we scraped through? Do­ miracles happen twice? Probably not, but to the Huns,­ where are you in Europe this season? And Paul G is­ still a @#$% (although a @#$% is something useful....)

    From Alan R, on Wed 1 Oct 10:22PM

  2. We did it when you had to play teams 4 times in a­ season, not just 2. Twice as hard if you do the math

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Wed 1 Oct 8:47PM

  3. SOMEONE WROTE ON HERE TODAY THAT THE HUNS DONE 9 IN A­ ROW BEFORE US COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHEN. HAIL HAIL

    From THE HOOPS, on Wed 1 Oct 6:54PM

  4. SOMEONE WROTE ON HERE TODAY THAT THE HUNS DONE 9 IN A­ ROW BEFORE US COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHEN. HAIL HAIL

    From THE HOOPS, on Wed 1 Oct 6:53PM

  5. When i read this i had to laugh "Gordon­ Strachan will be furious with the referee after­ Llorente made a meal of a little trip from Paul Hartley­ but the free kick just outside the box was­ awarded".

    Hmmmm does the name Nakamura come to­ mind strachan. You little idiot

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Wed 1 Oct 3:50PM

  6. i thought celtic would play more attacking­ football,they shouldn't have gave the opportunity­ away.....

    From vajiko_nemsadze, on Wed 1 Oct 3:33PM

  7. why did the wall no jump when senna took that free­ kick,mulgrew done it at weekend,we should have learned­ from that mistake,if the wall jumps its no gone in.
    but­ am gone down to manchester for a huddle anyway so hail­ hail

    From Kevin, on Wed 1 Oct 1:34PM

  8. Being a Scot I find it embarrassing that everything­ boils down to Celtic and Rangers. Rangers are not in­ the competition (sadly for Scottish football) so why­ all the comments about them here. This was a European­ game that Celtic were expected to lose and they did -­ big deal.
    I suspect the Allborg result at Fortress­ Parkhead will cost them dear this season (again bad for­ Scottish football).

    From george, on Wed 1 Oct 8:53AM

  9. Yet another game/competition that has shown the sweaty­ socks that they are well out of there league!!!They­ would not even manage to cut it in the­ "Premiership" never mind the "Champions­ (Man u )" league!!!Well it certainly makes funny­ television watching them play like kids!!!I would like­ to say to the celtic fans thanks for the 6 points we`re­ gonna batter you for!!! UNITED`UNITED!!!!!!

    From Kristan C, on Wed 1 Oct 8:53AM

  10. Being a SAcot I find it embarrassing that everything­ boils down to Celtic and Rangers. Rangers are not in­ the competition (sadly for Scottish football) so why­ all the comments about them here. This was a European­ game that Celtic were expected to lose and they did -­ big deal.
    I suspect the Allborg result at Fortress­ Parkhead will cost them dear this season (again bad for­ Scottish football).

    From george, on Wed 1 Oct 8:52AM

  11. ALL YOU HUNS WITH YOUR STUPID COMMENTS WAS THE HUNS­ PLAYING LAST NIGHT NO, CAST YOUR MIND BACK WE BEAT MAN­ U BEFORE THEY ARE PLAYING PISH AT THE MOMENT SO YOU­ NEVER NO,I THOUGHT WE PLAYED NOT TO BAD LAST NIGHT AND­ IT WAS NEVER A FREE KICK, THE REF WAS GIVING BAD­ DECISIONS BOTH WAYS LAST NIGHT, IT IS SOUR GRAPES WITH­ YOU LOT. HAIL HAIL

    From THE HOOPS, on Wed 1 Oct 8:19AM

  12. Celtic ARE useless,no doubt of that now,as they were­ comprehensively beaten away from home again.They­ can't win at home either,and even Aberdeen,the­ worst team in the SPL,almost beat them at parkhead,and­ would have except for a wee bit of luck at the end of­ the game.I hope Strachan stays,as Rangers will win all­ THREE trophys,CIS Cup,Scottisg Cup & the League­ Title,a lot easier with him in the managers seat,as his­ 'selection' of players is duff.Bring on Forest­ Gump as Celtic manager,that's the best way forward­ for them.

    From Big Bluenose, on Wed 1 Oct 8:09AM

  13. How much longer will Celtic put up with the runt­ Strachan? 1 point from 48!

    From Paul, on Wed 1 Oct 5:46AM

  14. Celtic weren't bad, just stupid to give away some­ freekicks near the box when u know sennas gonna take­ them. but dont really care cause gooners took care of­ business tonight.

    From dan.neagu, on Wed 1 Oct 2:53AM

  15. really poor poor showing from c**tic away from home yet­ AGAIN, no real surprise i have to say tho.just come to­ expect this from a team who relied so heavily on­ winning at home in the C/L ....but don't seem to be­ doing that either...ROLL ON THE RED DEVILS....

    From derek f, on Wed 1 Oct 1:15AM

  16. good to see le tedz getn an opinion out..a bigger joke­ than we nacho..

    From zzgus f, on Wed 1 Oct 1:03AM

  17. all th huns gloatn..quality from outside th ch lge­ circle (again)

    From zzgus f, on Wed 1 Oct 1:00AM

  18. all th huns gloatn..quality from outside th ch lge­ circle (again)

    From zzgus f, on Wed 1 Oct 12:57AM

  19. YIL NEVER WIN AWAY

    From robert r, on Tue 30 Sep 11:52PM

  20. YNWA = You'll Never Win Away....jog on jog­ on,Hahahahahaha

    Justice will be served if they end the­ group with 1 point.

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Tue 30 Sep 11:32PM
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