Europa League - Struggling Celtic sunk by Berg

Eurosport - Thu, 22 Oct 20:53:00 2009

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray's pre-match words came back to haunt him as Marcus Berg handed Hamburg a 1-0 Europa League victory at Parkhead.

2009-2010 Hamburg's Marcus Berg celebrates scoring against Celtic - 0

Mowbray had pinpointed £10 million Berg (pictured), Hamburg's 'back-up' striker, as the indicator of the gulf in spending power between the teams, and it was the Swedish sensation who made the difference with a classy second half strike.

Despite a lacklustre 0-0 draw at home to Motherwell on Saturday, Mowbray opted for a more pragmatic approach for the visit of the Germans, dropping Georgios Samaras for midfield play-breaker Landry N'Guemo.

There was a hint of attacking invention added in the shape of Shaun Maloney, but Mowbray's 4-5-1 formation served to reinforce his pre-match analysis that Hamburg boasted the stronger squad.

The names of Dutch sensation Elijero Elia, Sweden hotshot Berg and Brazilian veteran Ze Roberto suggested the Celtic boss had a point, yet Mowbray's tactics led to an opening 45 minutes that saw Celtic control matters territorially.

Snapping into tackles with the tenacity of an Old Firm derby, the hosts limited Hamburg to sporadic bursts on the break - although Ze Roberto always cut a serene figure amongst the hustle and bustle around him.

Mowbray's packed midfield meant the opening half hour saw just two chances of note, yet both should have been scored by Scott Brown and Berg respectively.

Brown's was more gilt-edged. Arriving unmarked at the back post from a corner, the Scotland man strode on to a half volley from five yards but contrived to slice horribly wide with the goal at his mercy.

Within 60 seconds he should have been punished. Jonathan Pitroipa's pace disturbed the Celtic defence, his cutback from the byline teed up Berg, but the Swede slashed his effort woefully wide of the far post.

Celtic were beginning to play the game in Hamburg's half, yet twice the Germans almost scored from set plays, Berg heading over from a corner before Dennis Aogo curled a free kick just over with Artur Boruc well beaten.

Mowbray's men were turning the screw bit by bit though and, after McGeady fell too easily under a challenge from David Rozenhal inside the box, the Bhoys really should have scored right on half-time.

Maloney, hugely quiet throughout the opening 45 minutes, latched on to N'Guemo's header but from six yards out the former Aston Villa man made a mess of his volley as the ball dropped over his shoulder.

A further inaccurate effort from Scott McDonald on the spin brought a tight first-half to a close, the symbolic "You'll Never Walk Alone" anthem summing up the importance of the 45 minutes to come as the players emerged for the second period.

Initially McGeady and Lee Naylor responded, sending the visitors reeling with a pair of wicked low crosses from the left, before Brown's endeavour inside the box set up McGeady to strike, but his left-footed effort was disappointingly tame when the situation cried out for a right-foot curler.

The miss served as a warning to Hamburg, and they responded clinically.

Two minutes later Pitroipa's pace once again caused problems to the home rearguard, and when he danced past both Celtic centre-backs before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot, Elia really had no excuses when smashing the crossbar from 12 yards.

The extra quality that Mowbray had referred to in his pre-match quotes was beginning to emerge, and when the classy figure of Ze Roberto strode forward to feed Berg, this time the Swedish striker made no mistake with a deadly finish from 18 yards.

Mowbray had replaced McDonald with Samaras just 60 seconds previous to the goal, although in fairness to the Greek he worked his socks off to help his side back into the game - only to find a lack of creativity in those around him.

The former West Brom and Hibernian boss responded by throwing on Paddy McCourt, whose impact was nearly instant as he skipped inside his marker to force a fine fingertip save from Rost towards his far post.

But an equaliser never truly looked like arriving as Celtic failed to score for the second consecutive home match.

Ben Blackmore / Eurosport

Comment 100 - 119 of 119

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  1. inverkenny you must be either joking or stupid, the­ premier league is by far the best league in the world.­ The scottish league is no where near it, the scottish­ league isn't a bad league but it is no where near­ the premier league. We could probably put a mid table­ club in your league and win it.

    From hufdkhfjhskh, on Sun 25 Oct 3:07PM

  2. everton and liverpool didn't do too well, english­ premiership, dont make me laugh, maybe some of them­ should try and get into the Scottish league, starting­ at the third division of course, let's see how they­ would do against our smaller clubs.

    From inverkenny, on Sun 25 Oct 2:16AM

  3. s.mcroberts77. theres no need to be racist, why do you­ people become so brave in front of a pc monitor, stop­ being so nasty to your old colonial masters, Scotland­ is the A,rsehole of the world.

    From f, on Fri 23 Oct 8:42PM

  4. celtic and rangers would seriously struggle in the EPL,­ infact they would struggle in the championship, celtic­ are an inigma, dispite what ALAN BRAZIL says on his two­ bit morning show, rangers well what can i say. stay­ were you are boy,s because you will embarrass­ yourselves down here!

    From TEVEZ, on Fri 23 Oct 8:38PM

  5. We ENGLISH really do RULE when it comes to football,­ maybe we should loan you SCOTS a few players!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Fri 23 Oct 8:33PM

  6. listen to all you english arrogant twats you think­ youir the best in the world but your scum plain and­ simple

    From s.mcroberts77, on Fri 23 Oct 5:44PM

  7. #99 john l mcgeady and brown you having a laugh what­ have them two done this season ?

    From the azzurri, on Fri 23 Oct 4:25PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Just rename these OLD FIRM clubs, STRANGERS and ­ LUNARTICS, what a load of RUBBISH, stay North of the­ wall where you BELONG, get it!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Fri 23 Oct 3:08PM

  9. yes as a celtic fan,wee are light years away from­ progress in europe,but 1 thing,everton get humped,,DO U­ SEE ANY SENSATIONAL COMMENTS NO;LIVERPOOL BEATEN;;WEE­ WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE AS SCOTTISH FOOTBALL IS ANOTHERE­ LEVEL;;; MCDONALDS SCORING BOOTS HAVE GONE;ALONG WITH­ SAMARAS;AND WEE AIDEN WHO DOSE A GOOD JOB BUT CANT­ SCORE; SCOTT BROWN A SHADOW OF A PLAYER::GOOD NOTES­ NEIL MGINN AND PADDY MCOURT LOOK GOOD 1s--hail.hail

    From UB40,LOCHEE, on Fri 23 Oct 2:39PM

  10. yes as a celtic fan,wee are light years away from­ progress in europe,but 1 thing,everton get humped,,DO U­ SEE ANY SENSATIONAL COMMENTS NO;LIVERPOOL BEATEN;;WEE­ WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE AS SCOTTISH FOOTBALL IS ANOTHERE­ LEVEL;;; MCDONALDS SCORING BOOTS HAVE GONE;ALONG WITH­ SAMARAS;AND WEE AIDEN WHO DOSE A GOOD JOB BUT CANT­ SCORE; SCOTT BROWN A SHADOW OF A PLAYER::GOOD NOTES­ NEIL MGINN AND PADDY MCOURT LOOK GOOD 1s--hail.hail

    From UB40,LOCHEE, on Fri 23 Oct 2:38PM

  11. It's just the tip o' the ice"BERG",­ Septic are @#$% too! Feeling Blue you lot?

    From A, on Fri 23 Oct 11:16AM

  12. Both OLD FIRM teams have been SUNK just like the­ TITANIC, what a bunch of losers and you want to play in­ the EPL, what a load of rubbish you lot are!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Fri 23 Oct 10:47AM

  13. well if we had the money that english teams spend then­ the old frim would be a force down there,if we could­ match the big wages use pay to ur players then yes the­ old firm would compete

    but if u look at liverpool and­ other clubs,they mite be in a dodgy situation in a few­ years with the debt they are in

    the FACT is players­ will go else were if the old firm are intrested in­ them,only a handful will come here to play in­ euro

    c'mon the hoops

    From Kevin, on Fri 23 Oct 10:30AM

  14. Celtic getting beat by the odd goal and the huns been­ hammered again in Europe! Its not looking good.

    From Ciaran, on Fri 23 Oct 10:22AM

  15. WOULD STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE IF­ THEY MOVED TO JOIN THE ENGLISH LEAGUE

    From The M, on Fri 23 Oct 8:34AM

  16. And you would like to play in the EPL!!! What a joke,­ no chance for both old firm teams, maybe in the ENGLISH­ CONFERENCE LEAGUES!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Fri 23 Oct 6:19AM

  17. Celtic and Rangers? Never liked them because referees­ dictate their scorelines. Except in Europe where they­ are just so diabolical that they are an embarresment.­ As for them thinking they could join the English­ league? I doubt the Lanarkshire pub leagues would be­ able to fit them in.

    From Andy, on Fri 23 Oct 6:15AM

  18. Hey jorlucy, send that comment to Nick Griffin!!!!

    From John L, on Fri 23 Oct 5:43AM

  19. Comment 100- Everton, gubbed, Liverpool, gubbed. Oh and­ not forgetting the other 15 clubs who don't get­ into European competition. Don't think your­ Premiership is too good for Celtic or Rangers. If­ you're that confident then let it happen!! But you­ won't will you. Because that would mean that two­ whipping boys wouldn't get a look in every season­ and whatever team you support would have to play Celtic­ and Rangers instead of Hull or Stoke or Burnley or­ whatever other yo-yo side comes up one season and goes­ down the next. Mambles, you should be called Mumbles,­ you tit!!!

    From John L, on Fri 23 Oct 5:38AM

  20. LISEN BYES, SCOATTASH FATBAL ISINAY IN GOOD NIK AT­ MINIT. I UNDERSTANED THOT JUST AS MUCH AS THA NAXT MON.­ A MEEN A WAD BE LYIN FROO ME TETH IF A SED ANY­ DAFFERANT. BAT LETS NAT KID ERSELLS HERE BYES, CELTIC­ AS FACKIN USELASS.

    From Donney, on Fri 23 Oct 5:28AM
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