THE congested fixture list which Ange Postecoglou had bemoaned before the Champions League rematch with RB Leipzig at Parkhead last night may not be an issue for Celtic after the World Cup finals.
Their cruel home defeat last night dealt a fatal blow to their hopes of finishing in the top two in Group F and going through to the last 16 – and significantly reduced their chances of even coming third in their section and dropping into the Europa League knockout rounds.
The Scottish champions once again performed superbly for long spells against their German opponents. But once again they failed to capitalise on the numerous scoring opportunities which they created up front. They have now netted just twice in four matches and have only a point to show for their efforts.
They can no longer progress in this competition. It is a cruel fate for players who have acquitted themselves well since joining the continent's elite for the first time in five years. However, the slightest failing is punished ruthlessly at this high level.
Victories over Donetsk in Glasgow later this month and a win over or draw with Real in Madrid next month could see them avoid the ignominy of finishing last in their section. But they will have to add an end product to their play to secure the consolation of a spot in the Europa League. It is a tall order.
Not having Carl Starfelt, Callum McGregor or Jota, three men who would have been automatic selections if they had been fit, was hardly ideal last night. But the players Postecoglou selected all rose to the occasion. It was only in the final third where they were found wanting.
The Greek-Australian made four changes to the team which took to the field against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday; Josip Juranovic and Greg Taylor came back in for Anthony Ralston and Alexandro Bernabei at right and left back respectively, Moritz Jenz took over from Stephen Welsh at centre half and Kyogo Furuhashi replaced Giorgos Giakoumakis up front.
He retained the same midfield and deployed Matt O’Riley alongside Reo Hatate in the holding role in the absence of his captain McGregor.
The playmaker had done well enough in Perth. But could he cope with the creativity of Christopher Nukunku, Timo Werner, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andre Silva and protect his defence? Would his manager regret not fielding a more defensive footballer in front of his back four? The Dane, like so many of his team mates, was brilliant both at the back and in attack.
Celtic, as had been the case against Real at Parkhead in their opening Group F match last month, attacked from kick-off and nearly took the lead in the very first minute. Daizen Maeda nodded just wide after a mistake by David Raum and good work by Sead Haksabanovic and Liel Abada. It was an encouraging start. But the miss was a taste of what was to come.
The visitors recovered quickly from that scare and were soon enjoying long periods of possession. Taylor did well to intercept a Raum cross which Szoboszlai was set to turn beyond Joe Hart, O’Riley threw his body in front of an Amadou Haldara attempt and Cameron Carter-Vickers slid in to win the ball just as Werner was poised to shoot in his area.
Celtic had their moments. But Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, who had come off the bench to replace his injured captain Peter Gulacsi in the Red Ball Arena six days earlier and who was making his first Champions League start, was never seriously tested.
Blaswich denied Haksabanovic after the forward, who was operating as a No 10 just behind Furuhashi, linked well with Taylor down the left flank. Too often, however, the final ball was overhit or easily cleared to safety.
Still, the sustained pressure the Scottish champions applied caused gaps to open up in their German rivals’ rearguard. They were unfortunate not to convert one of three chances they created in the space of as many minutes. O’Riley hit the post, Taylor pounced on the rebound and struck the crossbar and then Furuhashi headed just over when he was supplied by Haksabanovic. Their sharpness was sadly lacking.
The home supporters were, despite their heroes were clearly missing a cutting edge, enjoyed what they were witnessing. There was a cheer from the packed stands when James Forrest came on to replace Abada, who limped off injured after a challenge by Raum, three minutes before half-time. The wide man is a veteran of big European nights at Parkhead. Could he provide the spark his side needed? He was unable to.
The Premiership leaders had Hart, who gifted Leipzig a goal in Saxony with a slack pass, to thank for keeping them level in added on time at the end of the first-half. He diverted an Nkunku shot out for a corner with his outstretched leg. The keeper also denied Willi Orbain after the centre half had been played through by Haldara early in the second.
The tension grew around the stadium the longer proceedings remained goalless. Postecoglou made a triple substitution in the 65th minute in a bid to break the deadlock. Hatate, Furuhashi and Haksabanovic, who had all worked tirelessly, made way for Aaron Mooy, David Turnbull and Giakoumakis.
Mooy set up Maeda with a shot soon after taking to the field. But his team mate sliced wide of the right post. Nkunku claimed for a penalty when he went to ground after colliding with Hart. But a VAR check showed that Turkish referee Mustafa Eyisoy was correct to ignore his appeal.
Parkhead was silenced when Werner rose well and bulletted a powerful header past Hart with 15 minutes remaining after Silva had chipped the ball back to the striker from the goalline. Giakoumakis went close to levelling and O’Riley forced a save from Blaswich. But Emil Forsberg added a second with six minutes left.
Celtic must display the same composure and accuracy against Shakhtar and Real in their next two games to avoid exiting Europe.
