Celtic don fall again for Europa League, as Celta Vigo come from behind to beat dem 2-1 for Parkhead. Na Celtic third defeat for three Europa League games, and e leave dem 35th out of 36 teams. The first two losses come against Ferencvaros and Benfica. Na only Ararat-Armenia, and di inferior goal difference wey Ararat-Armenia get, stop the Scottish champions from dey bottom of the table.
The loss come after Sunday 7-1 win over Hearts wey make some people think say Martin O’Neill side don turn corner. But the gap between wetin Celtic dey do for Scotland and wetin dem dey do for Europe show clearly again. Mika Baur put Celtic in front just over one minute into second half, but the home side go inside dia shell after that. Javi Rodriguez score two goals in three minutes, first with header and then with one drive wey no goalkeeper fit stop, and Celta Vigo hold on for 2-1 win.
Celta Vigo bin neat and tidy for Parkhead, though dem no really test Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. The visitors, wey dey eighth for LaLiga but bin lose dia first two league phase games, grow into the match. About 3,000 Celta Vigo fans help the noise, while Celtic ultras group, Green Brigade, boycott the game to protest how dem dey run the club. Even with that, e appear say only couple hundred seats empty.
O’Neill talk after the match about referee decisions and small moments wey go against im team. E feel say Celtic suppose get foul before the free-kick wey Celta score from, and e say that goal knock Celtic and give Celta momentum. O’Neill also mention Liam Scales header wey flick top of the bar when Celtic bin dey 1-0 up. E believe say if that header enter to make am 2-0, Celtic go get three points. E talk say Celtic don lose three matches but still get chance to progress, and dem must win home and away. E add say after Celtic take lead, second goal for win match and change dynamic, but e no happen, and dem need find way to win European games.
Former Scotland attacker James McFadden no soft the matter. For Sportsound, e talk say the performances for this level no good enough and Celtic way short. E add say Celtic dey struggle when adversity come, confidence dey drop, heads dey drop, dem stop to play forward, ball dey go back and across, pressure dey come, and dem no dey take pressure off. McFadden talk say that one don become theme.
Celtic European run don bad well well. Dem bin look nailed on for Champions League when dem carry 4-0 aggregate lead against LASK for play-off round, but dem ship five goals in 77 minutes and drop into Europa League. O’Neill side don lose dia last four European matches, conceding 14 goals. Only once before dem do that for same season, for 2017-18 Champions League. For domestic side, Celtic still four points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers at top of William Hill Premiership and dem face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday. Before Celta game, Benfica hammer dem 4-1 for Lisbon last Thursday, but dem respond with 7-1 win over Hearts on Sunday.
