Champions League - Celtic claim Villarreal scalp

Eurosport - Thu, 11 Dec 10:37:00 2008

Goals from Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady gave Celtic a 2-0 home win over Villarreal in their final match of Champions League Group E.

FOOTBALL McGeady - 0

The result meant nothing to the Hoops, who finished bottom of the pool and had no prospect of coming third and qualifying for the UEFA Cup even before Aalborg held Manchester United in the other group match.

The implications for the Spanish side could be big, though, as they finish second and will therefore face a group winner in the last 16 of the competition.

Celtic took the lead 13 minutes into a bright opening that saw Thomas Hinkel save his side with a last-ditch tackle on Chile playmaker Mathias Fernandez, who almost set up Guillermo Franco a minute later.

Franco could not make contact with Fernandez's pass and the miss was a turning point in a game that the Yellow Submarine were expected to win.

On 13 minutes Scott Brown lofted a ball into the area and Shaun Maloney arrived with a header to put the hosts in front.

Edmilson should have levelled a quarter of an hour later but headed a corner over the bar and things went from bad to worse on 34 minutes when Franco was shown a straight red card for elbowing Gary Caldwell.

McGeady could have doubled the lead soon afterwards with a shot that went just wide, but he managed to get his side's second in first-half injury time after Villarreal allowed him the freedom to run through their defence and fire past Sebastian Viera.

Georgios Samaras missed a host of second-half chances to further humiliate last season's Liga runners-up while Caldwell and substitute Paul McGowan went close with late headers.

Reuters

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  1. Paul G why dont you pay a visit to Switzerland Im sure­ there's enough of us to get you a cheap one way­ flight on easy jet,Ya Waster Hail Hail.

    From peter, on Thu 11 Dec 11:41AM

  2. why are Sellik fhans not welcome in Blackburn ?? would­ it be because celtic fhans rioted in blackburn and­ recieving the highest number of banning orders.

    why do­ newcastle fans not want you tinks in Newcastle again is­ it because a large number of the tinks in green &­ grey pelt passers by with missles and urinate in shop­ entrances whilst attacking passers by

    how many times­ have Sellik fhans vandalised killies ground since­ sevull ...... 4 times

    From Lucifer, on Thu 11 Dec 11:37AM

  3. To be honest, rangers and celtic are not that much­ sectarian anymore, its when people bring stupid little­ things up then the media ect go way over board with it.­ The other teams in the spl however get away with­ EVERYTHING. When the old firm go to there pittance of a­ ground(s) its totally out of order the vile that they­ aim at the True Capital's big two ie Glasgow.

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Thu 11 Dec 10:37AM

  4. We Support Our Local Team ;)

    From suck_my_widgie, on Thu 11 Dec 10:21AM

  5. Celtic & Rangers Are LowLife Sectarian @#$% !! St­ Mirren Fc

    From suck_my_widgie, on Thu 11 Dec 10:20AM

  6. lucifer is a mong aswell

    From zigzigziggyzig, on Thu 11 Dec 10:09AM

  7. steven j just commented the exact same message on a­ united page but aimed at united fans instead of­ rangers...... wat a @#$%...... i'm a united and­ celtic fan but no one wants that kinda @#$% said on­ this sort of page.........take ur own advice sham.....

    From zigzigziggyzig, on Thu 11 Dec 10:08AM

  8. as a matter of fact if the rearangers are so popular­
    why is it they never are asked for friendlies .cos­ they are not friendly nothing but hordes of bitter wee­ people that cannot accept we are in 2008

    From simonk, on Thu 11 Dec 9:45AM

  9. celtic are not hated in every city they visit
    that is­ the racist mob from mordor you are confused lucy fer

    From simonk, on Thu 11 Dec 9:41AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sellik fitba club are the lowlife vermin of Scotland,­ why don't you tinks go home, the famine is over

    From Lucifer, on Thu 11 Dec 9:31AM

  11. both celtic and rangers are secterian scumbags who are­ both low life

    From quinnbrosltd, on Thu 11 Dec 9:27AM

  12. I've just tried to post comstructive comments on­ last night's match and it has been invalidated -­ again! So here's one for yahoo! - you're a­ f***ing bunch of tossers - now print that arseholes!!

    From Alan R, on Thu 11 Dec 9:23AM

  13. y dont all you people grow up and stop the sectarian­ bile just support the scottish teams in europe and get­ a life

    From portglasgo, on Thu 11 Dec 8:40AM

  14. Steven j, i wonder why your posts keep getting removed,­ hmmmmmmm

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Thu 11 Dec 8:23AM

  15. n.haig123.....that must be. "We are the people who­ can't spell"!! Their, their ;-)...don't­ get upset now you muppet!

    From Dave McBain, on Thu 11 Dec 2:22AM

  16. When it comes to Europe, Celtic and Rangers fans should­ belt up and hide under the bed. Through the SPL season­ the get all the assistance they need to qualify for­ Europe, but aren't good enough once there. Scots­ like myself who live overseas would like to cheer on­ ANY SCOTS TEAM in Europe but yet again, even before­ Christmas, its the big fat zero.

    From Andy, on Thu 11 Dec 2:12AM

  17. hohoo, I am not that surprised at all. I saw his­ profile on the tall men&women seeking affairs site­ ~~~TallLoving~~~ last week. It said he is interested in­ seeking a tall woman for fun on that site!

    From lijessie12, on Thu 11 Dec 2:03AM

  18. who was th first scottish team to get knocked out of­ europe twice in one season? answers on a pcard address­ to paul g and th rocket haig..

    From zzgus f, on Thu 11 Dec 1:44AM

  19. celtic and rangers. both big clubs in scotland but get­ found out every year in europe. they are the equivalent­ of elgin and east stirling when it comes to playing the­ real 'big' clubs so just settle down cos you­ lot are sh&*e in europe.

    From neilmair, on Thu 11 Dec 12:19AM

  20. Well Done Gordon. Keep Nakamura is what celtic need to­ do.

    From murphy_eoghan, on Wed 10 Dec 11:42PM
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