Celtic’s Europa League campaign is all but over after Celta Vigo came from behind to win 2-1 at Celtic Park, with Javi Rodriguez scoring twice in three minutes to leave Martin O’Neill’s side pointless after three league-phase matches.
Mika Baur had given Celtic the perfect start to the second half, but the visitors’ quick-fire response exposed familiar European frailties and condemned the Scottish champions to a third successive defeat in the competition and a fourth straight European loss overall this season.
After Sunday’s emphatic 7-1 Premiership win over Hearts, Celtic began with intent, though the first half produced few clear openings for either side. The home support believed they should have had a decision midway through the half when Callum Osmond went down following a push from Javi Rueda, but the referee waved away appeals, with the incident appearing to occur just outside the area.
Celtic’s breakthrough arrived just after the restart. Haissem Hassan’s cross was deflected into Baur’s path and the German midfielder swept home in the 47th minute.
Liam Scales then headed against the crossbar as Celtic pressed for a second. Had that gone in, the night might have taken a very different shape, but Celta survived and gradually seized control of the game.
Celta’s equaliser came from a free-kick that O’Neill felt should not have been awarded, after a foul seconds earlier. Hugo Alvarez delivered superbly from the right and Rodriguez powered a header past Sam Johnstone in the 68th minute.
Three minutes later, the Spanish side completed the turnaround in stunning fashion. Celtic failed to clear their lines once again as a tame clearance from captain Callum McGregor fell to Rodriguez, who collected the ball outside the box before unleashing an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the net.
From that point, Celtic had no answer and Celta saw out the game to secure their first win of their Europa League campaign.
O’Neill could not hide his frustration at the manner of the defeat, particularly after Scales’ crossbar opportunity. The Celtic Manager said: “Where did it all go wrong? Well, we hit the bar with the header, we could have gone 2-0 in front. I think if we had done that we’d probably have won, but forget ifs, buts and maybes, we conceded a goal from a set piece.
“We just lost a bit of momentum, but conceded the second goal, which was a blinding shot by the player outside the penalty area. It was a tough evening, but I can’t ask for any more from the players.
“Tonight is disappointing because I thought that we could win the game, I felt that beforehand, and while it was a tight match throughout, I still thought we could win. I haven’t looked at the table, but I was told roughly that there’s still a lot of points to play for.
“We have to obviously win a game at Celtic Park, and we have to win away from home, and I think we’re capable of doing that.”
The result leaves Celtic second bottom and among four clubs in the 36-team Europa League table yet to register a point, with their hopes of progression all but at an end.
The wider concern is the familiar pattern for Celtic, domestic dominance is not translating into European competitiveness. Celtic were ahead, had chances to extend their lead, and still collapsed under pressure as Celta’s quality and intensity told.
Attention now turns quickly to the Premiership, where Celtic travel to Easter Road to face bottom side Hibernian on Sunday.