Celtic's Euro Struggles Continue as Celta Vigo Snatch Victory
Celtic's hopes in the Europa League took a severe setback on Thursday night, as Celta Vigo turned the tables to claim a 2-1 victory at Celtic Park. After a dominant 7-1 win against Hearts in the league, the Hoops found themselves struggling to replicate that form on the European stage, marking their third consecutive defeat in the competition.
The home crowd was left fuming midway through the first half when Callum Osmond went down under a challenge from Javi Rueda. The appeals for a penalty were dismissed, as the referee opted against awarding a free-kick, much to the dismay of the Celtic supporters.
However, Celtic did take the lead shortly after the interval. Mika Baur capitalized on a deflected cross from Haissem Hassan to slot the ball home, igniting hopes of a turnaround. But those hopes quickly faded.
Liam Scales came close to doubling the lead, hitting the crossbar with a header, only for the visitors to respond dramatically. Javi Rodriguez orchestrated a quick-fire double, scoring twice within three minutes — first with a header and then with a powerful strike from outside the box. The quick turnaround stunned the home team, who couldn’t find a way back into the match.
Celtic now sits at the bottom of their group with no points to show for their efforts, and their European woes deepen as they aim to shift focus back to domestic competitions. The Hoops, currently four points ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, will face Hibernian on Sunday in a crucial league clash.
Despite a promising start, the game showcased Celtic's inability to maintain their advantage. Sky Sports' Luke Shanley highlighted that Celta deserved their win, pointing out that the Spaniards created far more chances than the home side. The frustration for Celtic lies in their failure to secure the lead, as conceding two goals in rapid succession proved to be a devastating blow.
With four consecutive European losses now in the books, the spotlight is on whether Celtic can compete at this level, especially after their recent domestic triumph. Their Europa League aspirations seem grim, and the quest for redemption will need to begin soon.
