Mika Baur gave Celtic the lead in the 47th minute, before Javi Rodríguez scored twice between the 68th and 71st minutes to give Celta Vigo a 2-1 win.
Celtic have lost three Europa League matches and sit 35th of 36 teams, and they have lost their last four European matches while conceding 14 goals.
The win gave Celta their first points in the Europa League this season, and they have now won two games in a row, including a 2-1 LaLiga win over Alavés.
Celta Vigo beat Celtic 2-1 at Celtic Park on Thursday, 22 October, in the Europa League. Celta had struggled in the first half and managed only one shot on target before the interval, a drive from Ferran Jutglà in the 45th minute. Celtic went ahead in the 47th minute, when Mika Baur finished a cross from Haissem Hassan that followed a loss of possession by Sebastián Cáceres. Javi Rodríguez then headed Celta level from a free kick taken by Hugo Álvarez, and scored again with a drive, both goals falling between the 68th and 71st minutes. The win gave Celta their first points of the Europa League season, after defeats to Omonia and Juventus had left them without any.
Celtic have lost three Europa League matches and sit 35th of 36 teams, above only Ararat-Armenia on goal difference. Their last four European matches have brought 14 goals conceded. Only once before had Celtic lost four straight European matches in a season, in the 2017-18 Champions League. The run began with a Champions League play-off exit, when LASK knocked them out 5-4 on aggregate after Celtic had led 4-0 and then shipped five goals in 77 minutes. Domestically the picture is different, with Celtic four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership after a 7-1 win over Hearts on Sunday, 18 October. Celtic next face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday, 25 October.
Martin O'Neill pointed to refereeing decisions and marginal moments that went against his side, including a free kick not given before Celta's equaliser and a Liam Scales header that hit the top of the bar at 1-0. O'Neill said that a goal from Scales would have made it 2-0 and given Celtic the three points, and that his side were still in with a chance of progressing.
“We conceded a free-kick and I thought a second before that we should have had a foul for us.”
Former Scotland attacker James McFadden, speaking on Sportsound, said Celtic's confidence drops when things go against them and they stop playing forward. He argued that the problem has been a recurring theme in Europe.
“The performances at this level haven't been good enough.”
Giráldez made changes during the match, with Moriba and Swedberg coming on for Burcio and Aspas. Celta are missing Miguel Román and Borja Iglesias through injury, and Radu made a strong save to deny Benjamin Nygren before the hour mark. Celta have now won two matches in a row, including a 2-1 LaLiga win over Alavés at Balaídos, and Javi Rodríguez, who has just renewed his contract, scored in that game as well. Betis visit Balaídos in LaLiga on Sunday, 25 October, at 16:15.
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Celtic have lost three Europa League matches this season and sit 35th of 36 teams after a 2-1 defeat by Celta Vigo at Celtic Park on Thursday, 22 October.
AI text based on reports by BBC, El Periódico, Irish Examiner and other publishers. Published .