SM
Everton vs. Liverpool: 7 hrs 9 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
CL
Europa League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2020 at 8pm UK
Celtic Park
ML

Celtic
1 - 3
AC Milan

Elyounoussi (76')
Laxalt (65'), Christie (86')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Krunic (14'), Diaz (42'), Petter Hauge (90+2')
Tonali (82'), Donnarumma (83'), Saelemaekers (88')

Celtic suffer home defeat to AC Milan in Europa League Group H opener

:Headline: Result: Celtic suffer home defeat to AC Milan in Europa League Group H opener: ID:419409: from db_amp
The Scottish champions were still smarting from their 2-0 loss in Saturday's Old Firm derby at Celtic Park when they had to contend with the Italians.

Celtic suffered their second successive home defeat as AC Milan secured a 3-1 victory in their Europa League Group H opener.

The Scottish champions were still smarting from their 2-0 loss in Saturday's Old Firm derby at Celtic Park when they had to contend with the Italian giants.

The Serie A side dampened an enthusiastic start by the hosts in the 14th minute when midfielder Rade Krunic headed in a cross from Samuel Castillejo before Brahim Diaz added a second with a drive just before the break.

Celtic's response was admirable and Mohamed Elyounoussi reduced the deficit with a header from fellow second-half substitute Ryan Christie's 76th-minute corner but Milan substitute Jens Petter Hauge clinched the win with a counter-attack goal in added time.

It was the first time Celtic have lost back-to-back games since December 2018, when they went down to RB Salzburg and then Hibernian but boss Neil Lennon will have been encouraged by their second-half display when they refused to give up.

The 2-0 defeat by their Old Firm rivals Rangers had no doubt stunned Celtic.

Lennon made two changes with strikers Leigh Griffiths and Albian Ajeti in as a partnership for the first time, replacing Patryk Klimala and Elyounoussi.

AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli made five changes to the side which beat rivals Inter 2-1 at the weekend to remain unbeaten this season and top of Serie A.

However, evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored twice against Inter, was again leading the line at the age of 39 and making his first appearance at Parkhead since coming on as a substitute for Ajax in a Champions League qualifier in 2001.

Neil Lennon's Celtic started well (Jane Barlow/PA)

Once again there were no fans allowed inside the stadium but Celtic started as if they were being cheered on by a packed house.

However, they were hit by an Italian sucker punch.

Castillejo drifted in from the right and flighted a cross in for Krunic to get in between defenders Stephen Welsh and Shane Duffy to direct his header past keeper Vasilis Barkas.

Celtic kept up a good tempo as they fought back but then the Serie A side began to occasionally flex their muscles and by the interval they had doubled their lead.

In the 42nd minute Ibrahimovic sent defender Theo Hernandez racing down the left and when he passed inside to Diaz, the attacker neatly side-stepped Duffy and Callum McGregor and slotted a shot low past Barkas.

Lennon replaced Welsh and Griffiths with Elyounoussi and Christie for the start of the second half and went to a back four in a reshaped formation with some early joy.

In the 51st minute, Celtic wing-back Diego Laxalt, on loan from the visitors, ended a promising move by driving just over the bar from the edge of the box.

Tom Rogic replaced skipper Scott Brown in the 64th minute but it was another replacement, Elyounoussi, who gave Celtic a lifeline when he headed in from Christie's delivery.

The home side gave it their all in search of a leveller but in the second minute of three added, Milan broke and Alexis Saelemaekers played in Hauge and his fellow substitute slipped the ball past Barkas.

amp_article__419409 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-10-22 21:20:25:
html db last update - 2021-02-13 19:44:41 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter Milan33275179186186
2AC Milan33216664392569
3Juventus331810547262164
4Bologna331711548262262
5Roma32167957381955
6Atalanta BCAtalanta321661059372254
7Lazio33164134235752
8Napoli331310105041949
9Fiorentina32138114536947
10Torino33111393129246
11Monza331110123543-843
12Genoa33912123540-539
13Lecce33811143048-1835
14CagliariCagliari33711153656-2032
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona33710163144-1331
16Empoli3387182648-2231
17Udinese32416123048-1828
18FrosinoneFrosinone33610174063-2328
19SassuoloSassuolo3368193965-2626
20Salernitana3329222670-4415
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .