FILIPE JOTA scored Celtic’s solitary goal against RB Leipzig as the Hoops lost home and away to the Germans in their Champions League group games.
The Portuguese maverick netted to make it 1-1 in the first game in the Red Bull Arena, but the hosts came back to win 3-1 on the night.
At Parkhead, two defensive lapses were punished as the visitors triumphed 2-0 leaving Ange Postecoglou with one goal to celebrate after three hours of football against their opponents.
Erling Haaland claimed FIVE in 35 minutes against the Leipzig team as Manchester City romped to an incredible 7-0 victory at the Etihad to advance to the quarter-finals on an 8-1 aggregate score.
A SOLITARY CHEER…Filipe Jota celebrates his goal in the 3-1 loss to RB Leipzig in October – the club’s only strike in the two games against the Germans.
It was difficult to believe that the well-drilled team that had kept the Hoops at bay apart from Jota’s effort could collapse in such a manner against Pep Guardiola’s side with the giant Norwegian running amok after collecting a first-half hat-trick with his first goal coming in the 22nd minute.
Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne scored the others as City eased into Friday’s money-spinning double draw for the last eight and semi-finals.
Haaland, who was signed for £20million from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has now scored a phenomenal 39 goals for the English side.
The 22-year-old attack leader is the first man in nine years to hit five in a Champions League game and it might have been more had Guardiola not withdrawn him!
Haaland, who will face Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, has claimed FIVE hat-tricks for Man City in all competitions this season.
So, how did Haaland succeed where Celtic failed? What was his secret?
The 6ft-plus powerhouse told BT Sport: “I love this competition. Five goals to win 7-0 at home – I am so happy.
“I do not remember the goals, I just shoot, I do not think! I just did it.
“A lot of it is being quick in the mind and try to put it where the keeper isn’t. A little bit of it is quality but a lot of it is in the head.”
Asked about Guardiola’s decision to substitute him with half an hour remaining, he added: “I told him I would love to score a double hat-trick, but what can we do?”
Holders Real Madrid also went through from the Hoops section and they face Liverpool in the Spanish capital this evening with a 5-2 lead from the first leg at Anfield.
Shakhtar Donetsk, who claimed the Europa League slot as Postecoglou’s men finished bottom, face Feyenoord in the Netherlands tomotrow night after a 1-1 leg in their home tie.
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