And with that, I’m done. It’s been memorable. Bye!
Rodgers also says that they haven’t yet ascertained the severity of Ryan Christie’s injury. He’ll presumably be off for x-rays.
Here’s Brendan Rodgers:
I think there’s always mixed emotions when you lose a game, but this campaign was over the course of six games. See how tough the group is. To get through above Leipzig, it’s been an absolutely brilliant effort by the players. I’m so, so proud of them, and obviously we deserved to get there because we finished second.
Tonight was frustrating. We didn’t play well, we didn’t play well at all. We didn’t build the game well enough from the back. We had too many touches in midfield and we lacked quality. From a performance perspective, I was disappointed. But they’re a good side. They’ve spent their money very well. But the campaign ended tonight in terms of qualification, and we’re through.
We were hanging in there. Craig made some great saves. We were poor on the ball. Technically we weren’t good at all. We looked a little bit leggy. We’re also a team that, we need our best players available to have any sort of chance at this level.
It’s very difficult [the next round]. That’s the reality of it. We’re into the last 32, which is progress for us this season. We’ll reflect on the performance, where we can be better, and congratulate Salzburg, a very, very good side.
Here’s Ewan Murray’s match report from Celtic Park:
Celtic, despite this loss, somehow managed to advance to the last 32 of the Europa League after Rosenborg’s draw at Leipzig in Group B’s other game. Olivier Ntcham’s goal, after his penalty was saved, proved immaterial as the crowd were busy celebrating the draw elsewhere.
More here:
Marco Rose, the Salzburg manager, has got a Celtic scarf and hat on and is posing for selfies with home fans. Like you do.
Updated
Craig Gordon talks about the second Salzburg goal. He was expecting Wolf to stop closing him down once he collected the ball and head back to the half-way line, and was caught out when he didn’t:
That doesn’t happen very often, that a player comes to close that down. That hardly ever happens. I think I’ve only seen it happen once before. Normally they turn around and go back. I’m annoyed about it, but it sometimes happens in football. That moment is a bit of a blow. Sometimes these things happen in football, and I’m just so grateful that it hasn’t stopped us going through.
Don’t try this at home:
Goodbye, @EuropaLeague. pic.twitter.com/qA5bHxoTfO
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) December 13, 2018
Celtic had some rough luck with injuries, but they were outplayed for most of the match, had four shots on target (of which two were from the penalty that led to their goal) and deservedly lost. But sod it, they’re through.
High fives and fist-bumps all round at the end, as Salzburg celebrate a 100% group stage campaign, and Celtic celebrate an incredible let-off.
Updated
Final score: Celtic 1-2 Red Bull Salzburg
90+8 mins: The crowd roars, as Celtic are beaten 2-1 and it doesn’t matter!
90+7 mins: Here’s the goal that saw Celtic through:
ROSENBORG TO THE RESCUE! ☘️
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 13, 2018
Celtic fans, you have a new hero, and his name is Tore Reginiussen!
A late goal in Leipzig means that Celtic advance to the knockout stage despite losing at home to Salzburg 🙏 pic.twitter.com/KAxfWcB3j2
Final score: RB Leipzig 1-1 Rosenborg
90+6 mins: It’s all over in Germany, and Celtic are through!
GOAL! Celtic 1-2 Salzburg (Ntcham, 90+5 mins)
The penalty is well saved by Walke, but Ntcham gets to the rebound first, and rolls it in the other side!
Updated
Celtic have a penalty!
90+5 mins: Benkovic is brought down, and the referee points to the spot!
90+4 mins: Now they’re wasting time by the corner flag at the other end.
90+4 mins: Which they’re in no hurry to take. They are basically playing for Celtic now (and doing better at it than the actual Celtic are).
90+3 mins: I now have both games on, and in Leipzig Rosenborg have a goal kick.
90+1 mins: There will be seven minutes of stoppage time here, and four in Leipzig.
90 mins: Salzburg bring on Smail Prevljak, replacing Dabbur.
89 mins: They’ve had a shot on target now! Ntcham’s free-kick is heading for the top corner, but Walke gets a glove to it!
88 mins: The home fans are cheering this as if it’s a victory, roaring their side home (to defeat).
88 mins: Ramalho fouls Rogic, and is booked.
87 mins: Roars around the ground as news filters through. Celtic are going through as it stands!
86 mins: Hang on!
Oh no.#RBLRBK 1-1
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) December 13, 2018
84 mins: Impossible miss! Remarkable! Benkovic flicks the ball on at the near post and at the far post Ajer has a tap-in from practically under the bar and somehow contrives to spoon it over!
Updated
83 mins: McGregor blasts the ball into Samassekou, earning his side a corner.
82 mins: Edouard has just touched the ball without giving it away, so that’s something. Celtic have so far had two shots (none on target), while Salzburg have had 16 (six on target).
80 mins: Salzburg bring Christoph Leitgeb on for Mwepu.
79 mins: And that, surely, is that. A catastrophic error. Karius-esque.
Updated
GOAL! Celtic 0-2 Salzburg (Gulbrandsen, 77 mins)
Gordon, who has had a brilliant game, makes a ludicrous, disastrous mistake! He collects a long ball out of defence from Onguéné and tries to immediately bowl it out again, but Gulbrandsen anticipates, sticks a foot out, get contact on the ball and is left with a tap in!
Updated
74 mins: Salzburg bring on Fredrik Gulbrandsen, and take off Minamino.
72 mins: A big chance for a second! The ball comes in from the left, is headed back across goal, Lainer heads it down and Samassekou’s point-blank effort hits Gordon and goes over! I thought Lainer had given Edouard a shove as the ball came towards them, but the referee didn’t spot it.
70 mins: Frankly Celtic are fortunate to only be a goal down, and but a single strike from European survival, with plenty of time to find one. “Mwepu’s grew so tired of the mentions that he died in May 2015...” says Edward Chukwurah of Mwepu Ilunga (see half-time video).
69 mins: As it stands, then, Celtic are out, and Leipzig are through in second place.
68 mins: It looks like Ramalho was hit by an object thrown from the stands as the away team celebrated their goal. He returns for the centre rubbing his head.
GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Red Bull Salzburg (Dabbur, 67 mins)
The breakthrough! And that is simplicity itself. Lainer’s cross is excellent, Dabbur is between two defenders and his header flies into the net off Gordon’s knee!
Updated
66 mins: Celtic attack, Tierney gets into space on the left, and his low cross is messily but eventually cleared.
65 mins: McGregor plays the ball through to Edouard, one on one with a defender and with nothing but green grass, Alexander Walke and goal behind him. He runs straight into the defender.
62 mins: Action has resumed in a similar vein to before. Celtic are almost holding their own now, though, at least until the ball gets to Edouard, who has been completely hopeless so far.
58 mins: Christie is finally carried down the tunnel, and Ntcham is on.
57 mins: Medical staff continue to treat Christie. With Ntcham’s arrival Celtic will have used all three substitutes, with a little over half an hour and a good chunk of stoppage time to play.
Updated
55 mins: The stretcher is on, and Olivier Ntcham is preparing to do so too.
Updated
54 mins: Christie is sitting up now, but he still looks to be in a lot of pain.
53 mins: Christie slides in brilliantly to dispossess Minamino as the Salzburg forward prepares to shoot, but he immediately starts writhing about and he is evidently in considerable pain.
52 mins: This one is headed on by Benkovic, at the near post this time, and it floats towards Ajer. For a moment it looks like he’s going to have a tap-in at the back stick, but a defender gets to it first.
51 mins: And Brown now starts the move that ends with Forrest winning a corner. They try a clever routine, which ends with Benkovic, beyond the far post, heading back across but only to a Salzburg player. Benkovic wins it back, though, and wins another corner.
50 mins: Brown is precisely the player Celtic need, namely one that doesn’t give the ball away unnecessarily in important areas.
49 mins: Bad news for Celtic. Leipzig are leading Rosenborg, and Celtic can no longer afford to lose.
THERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) December 13, 2018
CUNHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 🙌#DieRotenBullen #RBLRBK (1)-0 (47') pic.twitter.com/lMzn14g1zF
47 mins: Simunovic gives the ball away on the edge of their own area, but Dabbur’s shot smacks a defender in the face and bounces to safety.
46 mins: Celtic have taken off one Scott, Sinclair, and brought on another, Brown. Sinclair was poor in the first half.
46 mins: Peeeep! Salzburg get the second half started.
The presence of Enock Mwepu reminds me, inevitably, of the greatest Mwepu in football history. I’m sure he’s very tired of this being mentioned, but I for one never will be:
“I hate to sound biased,” says Peter Oh, “but maybe the Celtic players should drink some Red Bull at half time!”
It has been a really fast-paced and entertaining match. Given that Salzburg can happily lose and still stroll through as group winners, their attitude has been admirable.
Half time: Celtic 0-0 Red Bull Salzburg
45+4 mins: Celtic have been poor, Salzburg have been excellent, but somehow it remains goalless.
45+2 mins: A Celtic attack ends with Sinclair delaying his pass inside and then hitting it behind Rogic. They get the ball back, return it to Sinclair, and this time he crosses straight out of play.
Updated
45+2 mins: Meanwhile in Leipzig it’s half-time, and goalless.
45+1 mins: Into stoppage time we roar, and there will be about three minutes of it.
45 mins: Good work from Forrest, who has been Celtic’s brightest attacking hope, but then he passes to Edouard, who attempts a stepover and accidentally send the ball bouncing to the keeper.
42 mins: Another Salzburg corner, and Onguéné, having hit the bar earlier, heads wide this time.
41 mins: A chance for Celtic! Forest crosses low and hard from the right, but Sinclair doesn’t anticipate it, can’t reach it, and the ball keeps going for a Salzburg throw.
40 mins: Celtic are having a brief spell of not-that-badness. Edouard is a bit of a clumsy possession-surrender expert, though.
Updated
36 mins: Rogic takes control of the ball midway through Celtic’s half and bursts forward, before picking out Edouard with a crossfield pass. His control, though, is poor, and the ball bounces straight to Onguéné.
34 mins: On BT Sport, Chris Sutton says Celtic have so far been “outrun, outfought, outclassed”.
33 mins: A delay, because Ramalho’s boot has come off and he can’t untie his laces to put it back on again. Eventually the referee has to come over and help him.
31 mins: What a save from Gordon! Celtic give the ball away inside their own half, Wolf runs through, and just about evades Simunovic’s desperate diving lunge, but as Gordon runs out he doesn’t lift the ball over him, or take the ball around him, he just slides it right into him. A fine bit of goalkeeping, but he shouldn’t have had a chance.
Updated
30 mins: And that’s a lovely challenge from Ajer, who flings himself in the way to stop Minamino tapping in a cross from the right.
29 mins: Celtic do an attack! They move the ball well down the right, but then the low cross goes straight to a defender.
27 mins: So far Salzburg have had seven shots and five corners. Celtic are yet to have any of either.
25 mins: Salzburg win another corner. This looks like it might be a long night for Celtic, though importantly Leipzig and Rosenborg are still drawing 0-0, and for as long as that’s the case Celtic are safe.
24 mins: Benkovic goes down very easily as he’s touched on the shoulder by Wolf as the pair prepare to contest a cross, and the referee gives the free kick.
22 mins: Another Salzburg attack, though this time the closest they come to scoring is Ulmer’s volleyed cross-shot, which looked unlikely to go in and was anyway palmed away by Gordon.
22 mins: Celtic haven’t been more than 10 yards inside the Salzburg half in the last 10 minutes or so.
20 mins: Celtic are taking off their captain, Lustig going off and Ajer coming on.
19 mins: Onguéné is booked for taking out Edouard as Celtic try to counter.
17 mins: And they so nearly score! The cross comes to the far post, the header comes in, and with the goalkeeper emphatically beaten it hits the bar, comes down six inches the right side of the line, and bounces away! Then another corner, another header, and Gordon saves well at the near post!
Updated
16 mins: A smart move from Salzburg ends with Dabbur being dispossessed for a corner.
14 mins: A smart-looking move by Salzburg, as they keep finding a player despite Celtic pressure, though they actually only pass the ball backwards, and eventually Mwepu tonks it into touch.
11 mins: A minor festival of possession-surrender in the middle of the pitch, with Samassekou at its heart, sees the two sides win and lose the ball three times each before it finally runs out of play for a Celtic throw.
11 mins: His game isn’t over, and he’s back on the pitch.
10 mins: Lustig is on his feet, but it looks like his game might be over.
9 mins: Salzburg had a corner, and in competing for a header it looked like Lainer planted an elbow in the back of his head, without apparent malice.
8 mins: Lustig is down inside Celtic’s penalty area and there are a few players gathered around him in apparent concern.
Updated
5 mins: Save! A cross from the right, and Januzovic rises 12 yards out and sends a header looping towards the far post, but Gordon tips it over at full stretch!
Updated
2 mins: Nearly a chance for Celtic! Sinclair gets down the left and crosses, but it’s just too high for Forrest, who can only get the top of his head to it. “So, there’s a Buquet on the pitch and a Rose on the Salzburg bench?” notes Leo Addor. “By the way, is Marco Rose related to the mayor of Paradise City, Axl?” Enjoyable as it would be if Marco was a sweet child o’his they’re unrelated.
1 min: Peeeeeep! Celtic get us started.
Celtic are just huddling, and once they pop out of it we’ll be good to go.
And they’re out!
The players are in the tunnel.
Rangers are out of the Europa League after losing 1-0 at Rapid Vienna. Kick-off at Celtic is 10 minutes away.
Rapid Vienna have taken an 84th-minute lead against Rangers, who now need two goals to survive. Follow the latest with Scott Murray here:
Important clarification:
Ruddy bouquet
A collection of red flowers
Ruddy Buquet
A French referee
The teams!
The team sheets are in, and these are the names upon them:
Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Benkovic, Simunovic, Tierney, Forrest,
McGregor, Rogic, Sinclair, Christie, Edouard. Subs: Bain, Izaguirre, Brown, Hayes, Morgan, Ntcham, Ajer.
Red Bull Salzburg: Walke, Lainer, Ramalho, Onguene, Ulmer, Mwepu, Samassekou, Wolf, Junuzovic, Minamino, Dabbur. Subs: Stankovic, Prevljak, Daka, Gulbrandsen, Leitgeb, Pongracic, Todorovic.
Referee: Ruddy Buquet (France).
📋 The #CelticFC team news is in...
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 13, 2018
Here's how the Bhoys will line up against @RedBullSalzburg. #UEL pic.twitter.com/wsg9rZiDfZ
Unsere Elf gegen @CelticFC! #CELFCS #UnserBewerb pic.twitter.com/J6V7goFhcU
— FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) December 13, 2018
Hello world!
The good news: Celtic have a 100% home record in the Europa League this season, having beaten both Leipzig and Rosenborg at Celtic Park, and Red Bull Salzburg have no reason to try particularly hard, having already snagged top spot in Group B with a 100% record over their first five games (though unhelpfully their manager, Marco Rose, promises his side will “give everything”). On the downside, Red Bull are good enough to have a 100% record after five games, and with Leipzig three points behind, with superior goal difference and at home to pointless Rosenborg, defeat is likely to spell elimination.
Celtic have won 10 and drawn two of the 10 games they have played since their visit to Leipzig in late October, and 12 of the 13 games since they lost in Salzburg at the start of that month, and thus go into the game in the finest of fettle. “We know it’s going to be really tough against a top-class side. But we get the chance to show the great confidence and belief we’ve had from virtually just after the game when we played them,” says Brendan Rodgers.
So will this be a dreary encounter between a team that only needs to draw and one that doesn’t need anything? Or will it be a humdinger between a goal-friendly Salzburg side, undefeated since May and playing with no pressure, and a Celtic side forced to go for broke? Time alone will tell. Until then, hello! And here’s the league table:
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Bull Salzburg | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | Celtic | 5 | -1 | 9 |
| 3 | RB Leipzig | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Rosenborg | 5 | -10 | 0 |
