Celtic had the better of the opening 30 minutes against an accomplished Atletico Madrid team in this evening’s Europa League clash but after losing what will be considered a bad goal from a defensive perspective, were corralled by the visitors, who were content to tighten the game and play on the break.
Arda Turan’s blistering shot from outside the box should have been blocked, but Beram Kayal won this season’s Regi Blinker European Endeavour award and ducked out of the way, only a few yards in front of the helpless Fraser Forster, who did well to get a hand on the ball but could not stop it.
Celtic were a goal behind after 3 minutes in the corresponding fixture in Madrid and should have been behind inside 60 seconds when Eduardo Salvio was gifted a free header from 6 yards but he failed to hit the target.
Celtic soon settled with Georgios Samaras again proving effective in a wide-left midfield role. Daniel Majstorovic headed a corner into the six yard box which Samaras knocked goal-wards but keeper Courtois blocked on the line.
Next Anthony Stokes found space on the left to cross for Samaras but he couldn’t keep his first-time shot from the edge of the area down as Celtic had Atletico on the back foot, however, the goal would settle the visitors and clearly spread some dissonance among the home team.
Neil Lennon lost Joe Ledley to a twisted ankle seven minutes from half time and changed tactics at half time when Victor Wanyama went off with a dead leg, sacrificing five in the middle for a 4-4-2 but chances were few in the second half as Atletico defended effectively.
Georgios Samaras, who ran tirelessly and threw himself into challenges with no shortage of bravery while playing with space to exploit on the left, looked uncomfortable in the latter part of the game when playing with Gary Hooper as a front pair.
Hooper had the ball in the net but was judged offside after Stokes knocked the ball onto him. Ki fired a 25-yard free-kick on target midway through the half forcing a fine save from Courtius before Fraser Forster made two excellent saves, one from a remarkable Diego free kick from a tight angle that was heading for the top corner and another when he stopped Juanfran.
Celtic laid siege to the Atletico goal for the final five minutes but could not find an opening.
Read CQN Magazine for free online here. Subscriptions to the online copy are discretionary but you can contribute here. Old-school hard copies are available here from Magcloud.
[calameo code=000390171e35a62410844 lang=en page=30 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
455 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
Kayal33
Ah think he’s a Douglas type keeper: good shot stopper but not much good at anything else.
Saying that, ah loved Douglas back in the day :)
I’m proud to be a a Trade Union member.
And a Celtic supporter.
Kayal33
Sammi wis MOTM tho!!!!
st stivs denies knowing the mystery shopper
the exiled one is it you??// yer maw ?/
Gordon64 says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:14
Ah hope the strike does something, give these parasite politicians an inch and they take a mile.
About time someone stood up tae them!!!
Vic Ajax says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:14
At least Big Rab organised and communicated with his defenders. Sammi was my MOTM as well, can’t believe I just said that!!
I am amazed at the stick dished out by so called celtic fans about our players in the game tonight get a grip FFS the europa league means nothing to us as a previous champions of europe team. Do you get it the europa league means NOTHING its a tuppenece h’penny tournament and has no prestige what so ever attached to it . We are building our squad for next seasons champions league .
With ledley and wanyamma doubtful for Sunday, commons and broon will be required.
Think forrest may get rested. Hoops back in from the start.
Solid win and get geared up for the Christmas period (where we dropped points last season)
@cc
23 18 what stick???
Kayal33 says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:17
hehe me either, but that has been 2 games now he’s been a MOTM contender (tonight and St Mirren)
Go oan himsel the big man cos he defo deserves it after the flak he’s took
dirtymac, how you feeling now mate? still on the anti-biotics? hope to see you back at work soon, and btw K is blaming you for passing on the cold to him.
Thought we played very well tonight against a well organised team, it could have went our way easily. If we play like that against any team in the SPL then we will destroy them. Samaras and Kayal were outstanding.
HH
Good Evening,
I watched a Celtic side tonight who I would describe as nearly a very good side. Not a great side but a very good side.
Clearly we lack the absolute quality of player of yesteryear, but tonight I thought that Celtic side played very well in parts of the game in absolutely horrific conditions and against a side who won this competition last year and who are allegedly ranked by Eufa as currently 23rd in Europe.
I thought that the team barttled well and if they could find a final pass and be a little more clinical in creating chances then they could make great progress. Be in no doubt that this was a far more assured 11 than the team that played Sion.
Defensively, we still leave something to be desired at times but in the main we chased and harried well. I have no doubt that each of Ki, Kayal, and Ledley can be key players in a team– but I just wonder if they are the right fit in each game. Kayal is competative but small, my personal view is that he would play better with a more rugged sort than Ki at his side. In turn Ki can play a masterful ball and at times move the team about like a quarterback, but like a quarterback he needs time and needs defending at times. In certain games and against a certain level of opponent that may just be a luxury.
Up front, Stokes harried and chased, but to step up to a European stage level he needs a partner of stature, someone whose very presence worries the opposing defence. I believe that such a player will only advance Stokes’ own progress. Hooper is another who as yet has to step up to this level. Maybe that will only come from experience.
Young Forrest had the beating of their backs, but on occasion needs to lift his head for the final ball or alternatively needs a bit more movement and a shout or two from his strikers.
As for Samaras– to me he remains the great enigma. He provides a level of effort, and offers a measure of skill and pace that should or could place him in any team. Tonight he was excellent on that left area of the field although he is clearly not an out and out striker, and is not as comfortable playing in the centre where he often has to have his back to goal.
Wanyama is a find. Here is an athlete who understands his position. Young yes, raw definitely, and clearly rough around the edges. However he did not look out of place at all and remember that the Athletico squad is currently valued at some £144.5 Million pounds– over £100 Million more than Celtic. Victor is one for the future.
No this is an improved and an improving Celtic squad. There was nothing embarrassing in this defeat and the result could have been different with a little luck and a little more sure footedness.
Lastly, I thought that the Green Brigade were magnificent in creating atmosphere throughout the match but particularly during the second half of a wet wintery night.
As I said this morning, Celtic Football Club is about people, and tonight there was a fair bit for the people to be optimistic about.
A win in Italy is perhaps improbable but not beyond us.
Sorry– and this is really lastly— I thought the summarising on Radio Scotland tonight was very poor and ill informed. The consensus of opinion seemed to be that we were poor, with Murdo being dour, Willie McStay being kinda ok, and Richard Gordon being iffy. The exception was Chic Young who apparently asked some reasonable questions and who enthused about what he thought was a good Celtic performence despite the result.
Compare that to Darrell King whose first question to Neil lennon was apparently ” Is that Celtic now lost their momentum, Neil”?
Not so much lazy journalism as a pathetic excuse for journalism.
Celtic Champs Elect says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:18
Also in the so called group of death we can still qualify?!?
Don’t get half the comments on here tonight.
We played great and for 35 minutes in the first half totally owned AM!!!
Scared wee wabbits comes tae mind.
Still in our own hands plus we’ve got a league tae win.
God bless ya Neil!!!!
Vic Ajax / Gordon64
Well said fholks, but as ye know, they were prepared for strikes and other uprisings years ago, hence the increase in demonstration restrictions and intimidation of the past decade.
The polis are already arresting our own supporters (subversive and left wing in the eyes of the establishment) in case there’s an unforeseen upsurge in violence.
Next distraction/ revenue enrichment for the wealthy tactic is the invasion of Iran. Coming to a doorstep near us soon.
dirtymac
I only care about SPL…I don’t think I could take watching this Keech, bankrupted bunch of monkey Huns running away with 4IAR…
which is why..yet again we enter the January Window in need of Centre Back, Goalkeeper and captain/leader..the only person who doesn’t think this is PL…
CCE @ 23:18
Now we’re talkin.
Just home from game after pint at local,not yet seen the goal on tv but overall we played well against decent opposition. Ki had a poor game,
Forster needs to communicate with the back 4 and chances at this level need to be taken but the team has improved hugely from a month ago.
Onwards and upwards.Roll on Tannadice.
Well done Charlie Mulgrew. HH.
Cmon, get aff…
I’ll leave you with a “who said this?”
“The art is, not knowing the right answers, but knowing the right questions”
Beware of getting roarin drunk on certainties… like I do
Adios amigos
Wilson Ward 22.00 “the vanguard bears” ………I think theyve got the name vanguard from their bigot bros in norn iron…wasnt there a vanguard movement led by the willie faulkner round about the time things got restless in the north….an evil bigot man…..then thers the car called the vanguard from many years back……..guess it must be faulkner one id go for more suited to them
Vic Ajax- Wouldn’t it be ironic if Sammy keeps up his form, pumps the Huns on 28th and earns himself a January move to a good quality La Liga or Serie A team.
Cue gnashing and wailing on here.
Good luck to the big man if he earns that move and plays in front of more appreciative “supporters” than he does here.
Come final whistle at Tannadice on Sunday if we have bagged ourselves three points tonight won’t seem that important.The league title is everything and all this season.
Saw enough tonight along with some more recent performances to give me belief we will get the job done.I am aware we need improvements and/or better players in some positions to reach a better standard against European opposition but we already have enough to beat those on the domestic scene including the thems.
Get the first step complete then move on.
Starting with three points at Tannadice.
Go to it Celtic!
FOREVERANDEVER!!!
BRT&H
:(( That explains some of the negativity here earlier. Disusting.
More saddened by Murdo.
He was the first one to predict us going all the way to Seville way back from the early rounds. :(
Vic Ajax says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:00
Again, why did the ref blow for half time at 1 minute 43 secs into injury time in the first half when the total was 4?
Just watched it back there – 4th official showed 1 minute on the board.
Ooops… sounded a bit pompous… “like I do” meaning I gettin roarin drunk on certainties, like mea culpa, like… ah never mind
which reminds me…. pomplemouse… great word, no?
night this time
Br\o/gan R\o/gan Trevin\o/ and H\o/gan says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:22
Excellent analysis on the game.
Agreed on Forrest but would also include that he stops to look for a foul instead of playing to the whistle.
Ki has a great knack of creating space outta nothing (same as Sammi) but tends to get lost in his own thought process as to where to play the ball.
Stokes is always a forward who needs someone else in the forward position to play off of.
Totally agree with you appraisal of the GB. Ah had my head down round about the 58 – 60th minute then the GB just made that place sound louder and LOUDER. Cannot sing their praises enough.
Still believe we should’ve walked away with at least a draw but what I seen tonight was a Celtic team that never gave up against an opposition that is supposed to be soooooo much better than them.
God bless em and God bless Neil!
BTRH 23.22
Agree 100%. Any info on the huns accounts which i heard were released today ?
GB were outstanding tonight, Great atmosphere and the team doubtless took a lot of heart from it, putting in what I thought was a tireless shift, Sammi was exceptionala d never gave up, Vic was class too, I was on my way back to 112 when I heard the announcer saying Hooper was on for him and I knew he must be injured, far too many here tonight ready to put the boot in to our players but thankfully there are plenty who watched the same match I did.
Come on you Bhoys in Green!!
Hx2
FFM
Thanx. Today showed what the Tory govt
is up against.
Celtic=Labour=Freedom
Brogan R T H
Sammi – I agree his performances can be enigmatic but I think he takes the blame for that when sometimes it’s the role he is asked to play and the (false) expectations placed upon him.
Think of Sammi as a Striker and he gives a poor return. Think of him as a creative midfielder and he is excellent.
I actually think he is a scapegoat for the football know-nowts – To me he is the last ‘quality’ player we have – I can’t forsee us signing a player of his technical ability in the near future..for me he’s a reminder of the market we used to operate in.
I’m clearly a big fan but I’m not blind to the frustrations he causes and I can appreciate he’s infuriating, maybe more so after games like tonight when he shows his quality..but I honestly feel he is wrongly maligned for not trying – he always looks like he’s putting a shift in – would be interesting to read his opta stats for distance covered in games – I suspect it would compare favorably.
So, have the books showing the hun are trading while insolvent been released yet ?
Did I just hear Milliband correctly there?
He said “Unlike him I’m not going to demonise the cleaner, the dinner lady, the nurse. People who earn in a week what the Chancellor pays for his annual sking holiday”
Oh aye Ed? How much do cleaners nurses and dinner ladies earn in a week then that can afford one of them?
Where do we get these people ffs. None of them have a clue…..
Fortunes Favour Mibbes says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:23
Amen tae that brother!
It’s been a long time in the works for these ‘peeple’ and it’s only gonnae get worse.
But what really sticks in their craw is we still stay together.
Divided we stand an aw that…
Regarding Samaras.
We all have to realise he was being played out of position for several years. I could be wrong but I’m sure he was a midfield player in Holland before Man C bought him. They (in their infinite wisdom) played him as a striker. Then when we bought him, for some reason we thought he was a striker. Well he isn’t, Neil Lennon has realised that and we may just have a new player. God knows how many times I remember shouting “pass it….f-in pass it Samaras”. Now he seems to do that before I get a chance. Very very good player in the right position (and formation I suppose) rant there soz.
goldstar10 says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:26
Sammi had his chance tae go elsewhere in the summer for more money, he chose tae stay here.
The man is a tim :)))))))))
^(smile wae a lotta chins, too much beer tonight)
CultsBhoy hates being 2nd says:
30 November, 2011 at 23:34
Totally agree regarding Sammi
AJ CFC
You are a footballing genius – spot on!
Gordon64 @ 23:33
Luvvin that last line :)) They willnae like that!
Vic Ajax @ 23:35
Well said again.
Watching on ESPN tonight, the support were outstanding.
That consensus and unity was always there – they won’t like it one bit.
Our unity and social awareness scares them more than fholks realise.
Enjoyed your posts tonight amigo.