Celtic's Champions League aspirations were severely dented by Borussia Monchengladbach, who were more than worth their 2-0 win tonight at Parkhead. The Glasgow side went into the game buoyed by their 3-3 draw with Manchester City on gameday two last month. However, keeper Craig Gordon had to make several crucial saves in a first half largely controlled by the slick-moving Bundesliga side who picked up their first points in Group C. Captain Lars Stindl got the breakthrough in the 57th minute and then Andre Hahn made it 2-0 on the break in the 77th minute - both times Celtic defender Kolo Toure was found wanting - to leave Brendan Rodgers' side with one point from a possible nine, ahead of the return fixture in Germany in two weeks' time. Celtic still have to play Barcelona at home and City away which meant it was always going to be a key game.
Borussia Monchengladbach's Lars Stindl (left) celebrates scoring his sides first goal of the game (c) Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/PA Images The visitors arrived without a point after two games and with a squad hit by injury and illness. Celtic manager Rodgers made four changes to his side with Toure, Mikael Lustig, Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic returning to form the same starting 11 which tested City to the limit. And without a domestic defeat this season, there was no lack of confidence ahead of the game. Another packed house at Celtic Park, however, saw the visitors start the game with pace and purpose. In the first couple of minutes Toure got back to block an angled drive from Hahn after the German striker raced on to a pass from Stindl. The corner came to nothing but it was an early warning for Celtic. A Bitton free-kick in the 15th minute was pushed round the post by Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer for a corner but aside from that, the Bundesliga side looked in control. The game moved from end to end at speed. Gordon made a great save from Ibrahima Traore after the Gladbach wide man had been set up by Jonas Hofmann, the Parkhead keeper gathering the low drive at the second attempt with Hahn lurking. The Scotland keeper made another good save in the 26th minute, this time from Hofmann's stinging drive after the visitors again exploited space behind left-back Kieran Tierney. | |
Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net) Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net) This is Scottish-Fitba.Net |