CELTIC’S midweek Champions League foes Anderlecht came from behind to claim their second successive win last night.
The Belgians, who sacked manager Rene Weiler last week looked set for a third league defeat of the campaign as they trailed Waasland-Beveren 1-0 with just 15 minutes to go.
But two goals in the closing stages turned the game around and ensured interim boss Nicolas Frutos kept up his winning start after Wednesday’s Belgian Cup victory at Westerlo.
However, Frutos has suffered a double injury blow as he prepares his team for the crucial encounter with Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops.
Star winger Andy Najar has been ruled out for the next month with a torn hamstring and defender Kara Mbodj has sustained a serious knee injury.
In last night’s encounter, Waasland-Beveren went ahead in the seventh minute through Isaac Kiese Thelin.
But Anderlecht drew level in the 75th minute when Romanian midfielder Nicolae Stanciu netted before towering Serbian defender Uros Spajic secured victory with nine minutes remaining.
The victory moves Anderlecht up to seventh in the Belgian First Division on 12 points from eight games.
On-loan Everton star Henry Onyekuru – a former target for Celtic – came off the bench in the second-half, but is in line to start against Celtic in midweek.
Anderlecht and the Parkhead men were the only sides from Group B to emerge victorious from their domestic matches this weekend.
Paris Saint-Germain were held to a surprise goalless draw at Montpellier. Brazilian star Neymar missed out on the Ligue 1 clash through injury although he is expected to return against Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga side fared little better after blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Wolfsburg in Munich.
Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben had given Bayern the advantage before goalkeeper Sven Ulreich – deputy for the injured Manuel Neuer – let Maxi Arnold’s 25-yard free-kick slip past him and Daniel Didavi headed a late equaliser to leave Bayern second in the table.
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP13) The Quality Street Gang Part 1
A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.
This week, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ pays tribute to The Quality Street Gang.
In the first of a two-part series, Paul John Dykes interviews Billy Murdoch, Bobby Wraith, HughMcKellar and Lou Macari to discuss one of the finest crops of youngsters ever to emerge from Celtic Park.
90,000 Celtic fans can’t be wrong…
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine.
