Europa League - Group G
B LeverkusenBayer 04 Leverkusen3CelticCeltic2

Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 Celtic: Late collapse seals Scots' Europa League exit

By Martin WattBBC Scotland
Josip Juranovic's Panenka penalty hauled Celtic level shortly before half-time
Josip Juranovic's Panenka penalty hauled Celtic level shortly before half-time

Celtic's hopes of Europa League progression were extinguished after a late collapse condemned them to defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Scottish club were on course for a first win in Germany after fighting back with an audacious Josip Juranovic penalty - awarded after a VAR check - and a second-half Jota strike.

But Robert Andrich, whose header had given the hosts an early lead, equalised in the 82nd minute and Moussa Diaby thumped in the winner to secure top spot for Leverkusen.

It leaves Celtic four points behind second-place Real Betis, who beat Ferencvaros 2-0, with the Spaniards visiting Glasgow next month in their final group fixture.

Celtic were already assured of third place and a Europa Conference play-off spot, where they will face a runner-up from that tournament, but the nature of this defeat will sting after a promising performance.

The Scots were taught a harsh lesson in finishing when ruthless Leverkusen racked up a 4-0 win in Glasgow in September, but that proved a turning point for Postecoglou's men, who had won eight and drawn one since.

They had goalkeeper Joe Hart's heroics - and the woodwork - to thank for a turnaround which would have made history on the club's 13th visit to Germany.

But Leverkusen's barrage of late pressure overwhelmed Celtic, who have conceded the highest number of goals in the group stage as their defensive frailties were again laid bare.

They fell behind amid a flurry of early home pressure, having not heeded an earlier warning when Andrich rose unchallenged to head over.

The midfielder made no mistake second time around, running from the edge of the box to meet another Florian Wirtz corner and guide a header in at the far post.

Celtic staged a spirited response, showing composure in possession and pressing with intensity, but were struggling to make inroads in the final third.

When they fashioned a first effort at goal after 40 minutes, it provided the equaliser. Jota swung a dangerous cross into the penalty box and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky got nowhere near the ball as his attempt to punch clear caught Kyogo Furuhashi flush in the face.

Juranovic - back on penalty duties with Giorgios Giakoumakis injured - was calmness personified with a chipped spot-kick down the middle that kissed the bar on its way in.

The woodwork smiled on Celtic again to keep them level before half-time. Juranovic overran the ball on the edge of the box and Diaby rattled a ferocious angled drive off the near post before Wirtz stabbed the rebound off the opposite upright.

Another scare followed swiftly after the restart, with Hart blocking Diaby's effort with his legs then diving at the feet of Amine Adli to prevent the winger tapping in.

It was an incredible double save. And Hart was not done there, sparking the move which gave Celtic the lead with a throw out to James Forrest in the opposition half.

The visitors worked the ball slickly into the box where former Celtic full-back Jeremie Frimpong's slip allowed Kyogo to lay the ball off for Jota to whip a shot past the helpless Hradecky.

With half an hour to go, Celtic were dropping deeper but keeping Leverkusen out as Hart parried an Adli strike over the bar.

The former England international made another terrific stop to divert Adli's shot over with a foot, even though the 21-year-old looked yards offside, and Celtic were made to rue that decision in the next phase of play.

Nadiem Amiri cushioned a Wirtz cross back to Andrich for an empathic finish through Hart's legs for the equaliser.

Leverkusen kept up the momentum Diaby lashed home a bouncing strike on the edge of the box from a delicious scooped pass from Wirtz, before Celtic's David Turnbull had a close-range effort tipped wide in the final seconds as his side's exit was confirmed.

Man of the match - Cameron Carter-Vickers

The Celtic defender was unlucky to be on the losing side after an excellent display
The Celtic defender was unlucky to be on the losing side after countless key tackles and interventions in an excellent display

What did we learn?

This was a far more controlled Celtic display than their hammering by Leverkusen in Glasgow, but Postecoglou's side were undermined by their failure to protect a lead - or cling on a for a point - in the final 10 minutes.

While averaging two goals scored per game in the group, their 13 conceded is far too many and ultimately the reason why they drop down to the Europa Conference.

What did they say?

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "We weren't able to control the game the way we wanted because they have quality in their side and they're always a threat on the counter-attack so we had to be a bit wary.

"We hung in there and Joe (Hart) made some good saves. We just couldn't hang on in the end."

What's next?

Celtic host Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday (15:00 GMT) and complete their Europa League group campaign at home to Real Betis on 9 December (20:00).

Match stats

  • Bayer Leverkusen have never lost a home Europa League group stage match in 15 previous games (W12 D3) - the most of any side without losing in the competition's history.
  • Celtic have scored two or more goals in each of their last four away games in the Europa League, but have gone on to win only one of those matches (L3), beating Ferencvaros 3-2 at the start of the month.
  • Celtic have conceded at least once in 26 of their 28 away Europa League games, conceding in each of their last 11 such matches in the competition, since a 1-0 win in Rosenborg back in November 2018.
  • Florian Wirtz has been directly involved in ten goals in 13 Europa League appearances for Bayer Leverkusen (five goals, five assists).
  • Robert Andrich has scored three goals in his last three appearances for Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions, more than he netted in his first nine appearances for the club this season (two).
  • Celtic's Josip Juranovic has had two attempts on goal in this season's Europa League campaign, both penalties which he converted.

Line-ups

B Leverkusen

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1HrádeckyBooked at 39mins
  • 30Frimpong
  • 6Kossounou
  • 4Tah
  • 33HincapiéSubstituted forSinkgravenat 75'minutes
  • 19Diaby
  • 8Andrich
  • 25PalaciosBooked at 33mins
  • 7Sampaio FilhoSubstituted forAmiriat 75'minutes
  • 31Adli
  • 27WirtzSubstituted forTapsobaat 89'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Retsos
  • 11Amiri
  • 12Tapsoba
  • 22Sinkgraven
  • 36Lomb
  • 37Gedikli
  • 40Lunev

Celtic

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 15Hart
  • 56Ralston
  • 20Carter-VickersBooked at 69mins
  • 57Welsh
  • 88Juranovic
  • 6BittonSubstituted forMcCarthyat 76'minutes
  • 49ForrestSubstituted forAbadaat 72'minutes
  • 14Turnbull
  • 42McGregor
  • 17Neves FilipeSubstituted forJohnstonat 72'minutes
  • 8FuruhashiSubstituted forAjetiat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Scales
  • 10Ajeti
  • 11Abada
  • 12Soro
  • 16McCarthy
  • 19Johnston
  • 26Urhoghide
  • 29Bain
  • 30Shaw
  • 47Murray
  • 54Montgomery
  • 71Oluwayemi
Referee:
Anastasios Sidiropoulos
Attendance:
19,830

Match Stats

Home TeamB LeverkusenAway TeamCeltic
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home16
Away5
Shots on Target
Home7
Away3
Corners
Home11
Away3
Fouls
Home10
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3, Celtic 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3, Celtic 2.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lukás Hrádecky.

  4. Post update

    Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Nadiem Amiri (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Diaby.

  6. Post update

    Robert Andrich (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

  8. Post update

    Corner, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Conceded by Anthony Ralston.

  9. Post update

    Nadiem Amiri (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Liel Abada (Celtic).

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Anthony Ralston (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Johnston.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Edmond Tapsoba replaces Florian Wirtz.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Daley Sinkgraven.

  14. Goal!

    Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3, Celtic 2. Moussa Diaby (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.

  15. Post update

    Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Michael Johnston (Celtic).

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Amine Adli (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Tah.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jonathan Tah (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Conceded by James McCarthy.

  20. Goal!

    Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2, Celtic 2. Robert Andrich (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nadiem Amiri.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 25th November 2021

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lyon55001541115
2Rangers52125417
3Sparta Prague511349-54
4Brøndby IF502329-72

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Monaco532063311
2PSV Eindhoven52219548
3Real Sociedad51316606
4SK Sturm Graz501429-71

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leicester522110828
2Spartak Moscow52129907
3Napoli521212847
4Legia Warsaw5203410-66

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Frankfurt532095411
2Olympiakos53028629
3Fenerbahçe512267-15
4Royal Antwerp5023510-52

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Galatasaray532073411
2Lazio52217348
3Marseille504157-24
4Lokomotiv Moscow502328-62

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Red Star Belgrade531153210
2Sporting Braga530211839
3FC Midtjylland52217708
4Ludogorets501438-51

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1B Leverkusen54101441013
2Real Betis5311109110
3Celtic52031013-36
4Ferencvárosi TC5005412-80

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1West Ham5410112913
2Dinamo Zagreb52128627
3KRC Genk512249-55
4Rapid Vienna510439-63
View full Europa League tables

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