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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Celtic's second UEFA Youth League match ends in defeat against Borussia Dortmund

All eyes are on tonight's big UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic. 

But while over 5,000 Hoops fans are over in the German city heading to Signal Iduna Park, another encounter involving the same opposition has taken place. 

That involved Stephen McManus' Celtic B team and Dortmund's stars of the future in the UEFA Youth League

Disappointingly, Celtic lost 4-0 on this occasion at Dortmund's training ground, with the hosts just proving too much despite some positive play from the Scots.

Dortmund led by a single goal at the half-time break, although Celtic had an Aiden Rice penalty save to thank for that advantage not being extended until the second half. 

The next 45 minutes of football saw Celtic concede another three goals without reply and left them turning their attention back to Lowland League action this weekend.


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Speaking after the full-time whistle, McManus said: "It was tough afternoon for us. Dortmund are a very good side. We knew that, we knew it was going to be tough game but the application and the work ethic from our boys was terrific.

"It was a game that they are not really used to playing. That's the kind of whole point of this competition for us. We are exposing players to an environment that they don't get the opportunity to be in. 

"I said to them there in the dressing room, there's no hiding place on the football pitch, so you need to get exposed to playing against boys who are stronger, more athletic, technically very good, dynamic. 

"But some of our stuff was good. Everything that we spoke about in the team meetings and in the opposition previews that we do was where the game went. But again for our boys it's a brilliant learning curve for them and that's why we really enjoy being in this tournament." 

Celtic in general don't have a strong record playing in Germany. 

But Brendan Rodgers' first team will be aiming to be more competitive and build on their match day one league phase victory over Slovan Bratislava. 

That 5-1 win has put Celtic in a strong early position as they strive to reach the knockout stage of the competition. 

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