CELTIC’S HOPES OF reaching the Champions League group stage are over after a 2-1 defeat in Greece tonight saw AEK Athens run out 3-2 aggregate victors, putting Brendan Rodgers’ future in doubt.
There had been suggestions pre-match that former Liverpool coach Rodgers could be tempted to walk away if Celtic failed to make it through the qualifiers and, although Scott Sinclair made sure of a gripping finish, the Scottish club did not have enough to beat the Greek champions.
The first-leg draw meant Celtic already had it all to do in Athens before sloppy defending presented AEK with an early chance that was taken with aplomb – Rodrigo Galo blasting home from the centre of the area after a Niklas Hult cut-back was not intercepted in the sixth minute.
The home side had a bit of a wobble around the half-hour mark, as Celtic began to take charge and look the more threatening – Leigh Griffiths just missing the target from Callum McGregor’s low cross 10 minutes before the break.
But Celtic continued to look susceptible to the counter and it was not a huge surprise when AEK got themselves a second in the 50th minute, as Marko Livaja nodded in from close range after Vassilis Lambropoulos headed a free-kick down to the former Inter man.
The visitors were forced to pile men forward as a result and eventually pulled one back 12 minutes from time through Sinclair’s well-placed header, but AEK managed to hang on.
Celtic will now go into the Europa League, where they will face either Lithuania’s Suduva or Spartaks Jurmala of Latvia. AEK will face MOL Vidi in the final round of Champions League qualification.
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Europa is their level , Champions league is nice but if they embrace the the Europa in the way Sevilla did then they could have many happy days ahead.
@Hardly Normal: they’ll meet teams far superior to AEK Athens in the Europa League. Maybe not in the early rounds but definitely at some point.
@Dave O Keeffe: course they will, doesn’t mean they can’t beat them or at least give a good account of themselves though.
I thought they showed plenty of Character Brendan
@Roy Ska Butler: good composure on the ball
@Roy Ska Butler: If the EPL teams had to play 6-8 games a season just to get into the group stages, chances are that once or twice they’d slip up..Fair enough Scottish Football hasn’t the money of the top leagues in Europe but UEFA have made a mockery of the ‘Champion’s League. Finish FOURTH in England and you’re straight into the group stages, just because SKY are giving you billions every year.. After 20 years it will get boring with the same three or four teams winning it
@David Garland: it’s all a ranking based system. The premier league nearly lost their 4th qualifation spot a few years back. Nothing to do with Sky’s money.
@David Garland: sky don’t show The champions leagues anymore mate
@Turkish: The top four from England, Spain, Germany and Italy get in because of money. Look it up.. All because of money
@David Garland: If twas really the champions league then Cork City would be straight through too. But that’s not the way it goes. Celtic laugh at Rangers and boast about their superiority but it is this superiority ruins Celtic in Europe. The SPL’s coefficient is poor because only Celtic contribute to it in a meaningful way. The other teams drag the average down. Unless the other teams improve in Europe then Celtic will continue to have to play multiple rounds to qualify for the group stages.
@Mike: nonsense. The SPLs coefficient is poor as the bigger leagues have gotten bigger while the smaller ones have had their rights stripped away.
Corporate sponsorship dictated the number of EPL/La Liga etc clubs getting more teams in, hidden behind the coefficient argument.
There is absolutely no way a third placed team in those leagues should be granted automatic access to group stages. It is partly what killed the League of Ireland – gone the days of Cork v Bayern etc
AEK are UEL regulars and got to the last 32 in the Europa League last season from a group that contained AC Milan, who they drew with twice. Only went out to Dynamo Kiev on away goals. These lads were always going to be a decent challenge and I fancy them to go on now and beat Vidi from Hungary. Very hard now to win through 4 qualifying rounds.
@Gerard O’Brien: I didn’t think they were a good side. Just really well organised. They’re really poor in midfield. They struggled against Celtic for most of those two games.
Celtics reserve centre backs fecked it for them.
@Ciaran Rice: maybe they weren’t that good but they are well experienced in Europe and a savvy side. If Celtic kept a clean sheet at home they would now be through. Fine margins. Scottish clubs are doing well in qualifying and I think I read somewhere that was the 1st defeat in normal time in 18 games. While Celtic’s own co-efficient is very good, they need the Country ranking to go up to enter at a later round, ala AEK. They’ll make the EL groups. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rangers did too.
@Ciaran Rice: boyota going on strike didn’t help.its shameful.him and his agent are shameful characters.
Start spending a bit and Celtic might get somewhere. Plenty of quality players available for modest fees if clubs look around. What do Celtic expect to do in Europe with the likes of Lustig still playing?
Better team went out unfortunately. Completely dominated that side over two legs, they couldn’t get near us. They are really well organised though and our defence did the rest for them.
@Ciaran Rice: It was Athens! Top level teams don’t need excuses Ciaran.
@Ciaran Rice: Ciaran you cant say a team couldn’t get near you when they got a score draw at parkhead and beat you 2-1 in Greece
@AmbroseHoulihan: do you know much about AEK?
you can call it an excuse all you want. Celtic played that tie with a third choice centre back pairing.
They weren’t as good as us and played to their strengths.
@Mel Roberts: I mean in terms of ability and play. They were chasing shadows for two legs but they know their limitations and were defensively brilliant.
Sometimes the better side goes out. That happened tonight.
@Ciaran Rice: if you can’t beat a team over two legs you aren’t better simple
@Ciaran Rice: 2 matches played over 180 minutes Ciaran, if they were the ‘better team’ why did they not score more goals ? They had 3 hours of play to do so.
@Aidan Holden: that’s not true though is it.
Were Celtic a better side than Barca when they beat them at Parkhead? Nope, but Lennon had our tactics perfect and we won.
@Ciaran Rice: That was one match. How did they get on in the return game in Barcelona?
@Mike Keane: oh, so it has to be over two games now?
Celtic put Barcelona out of Europe over two legs. Were Celtic a better team than them? No. Again, our tactics were sound and we took the only clear chances we made over two legs.
@Ciaran Rice: will this was over two legs so yes
@Aidan Holden: so Celtic were a better side than Barca?
@Ciaran Rice: That was a group game and a rubber game for Barca, o
@Martin Fahy: oh, so it has to be in knockouts. Group games don’t count. Lots of goal posts being moved here.
It wasn’t a rubber for Barca. You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about do you?
@Ciaran Rice: Abs garbage better side can lose a one off but 2 legs home and away and couldn’t beat them is not “the better side went out” it’s not good enough plain and simple? It’s Athens f sake ???
@Philip Mckenna: did you watch the games? Better teams go out to inferior sides in every sporting competition known to man. It happens every year.
If Celtic weren’t the better side I’d be the first to say. What hurts about defeats like this is when you are clearly a better team.
Remember when Greece in 2004 were the best side in Europe? Nah, me neither.
@Ciaran Rice: Ciaran that was 6 years ago, as good a night as it was its not got any relevance to tonight
@Mel Roberts: the point stands though. Inferior sides beat better teams all the time.
@Ciaran Rice: I don’t think you would say you have the most green and white glasses on ever??? Yes watched game they had 1 SHOT ????? 1!!!!! And 33% possession against Athens????? How the hell is that the better side and “dominating them” ??? Get help ?
@Ciaran Rice: No Celtic won 1-0 at Parkhead and lost 4-0 away. Like tonight, the better team won over 2 legs.
@Ciaran Rice: Eh no… who ever scores the most and concedes the less is the better team. Celtic are not Champions League level, could have a good go at the Europa League though…
@Philip Mckenna: you watched the game? Really?
Celtic had 19 shots at goal with 5 on target. 7 corners to Athens 0 and most of the possession.
You didn’t watch it at all did you?
@Mike Keane: what Celtic V Barca tie are you talking about? You’ve just made that up.
@Philip Mckenna: you want to get your eyesight tested. Celtic had more possession, more attempts on goal, more corners, the only thing that Athens had more of was yellow cards and of course two goals but good luck to them.
@Ciaran Rice: he’d rather support an epl side than a club who quite possibly helped his ancestors getting off a coffin ship.but if you know your history………..HH
@Ciaran Rice: are you on about the UEFA Cup 15 years ago?
@David Turtle: yes, the point I’m making is that teams knock superior sides out of competitions all the time.
People here are trying to say that the better team always progresses. It’s not true.
Celtic are much superior than AEK but their tactics were spot on and they played brilliant defensively.
@Ciaran Rice: Delusional.
@George Oscar Bluth: clueless. Did you watch the games?
@Philip Mckenna: mr rice talks through his hoop. Dreamland stuff. Celtic are not a good side, unless of course they play domestically.
@Ciaran Rice: they’re not much superior but I’d agree Celtic are the better team. AEK keeper made some good saves and Celtic had a couple just wide. Didn’t see the first leg but 1-1 v ten men at home will most likely haunt you in Europe. Where was Edouard tonight?
@Philip Mckenna: celtic didn’t have 1 shot.. You’ve been reading the sky sports and BBC websites for your stats.. According to them we never had a shot on or off target apart from the goal? So Griffiths header that went slightly over, simunovic header keeper saved and his shot at the end were imaginary? Rogic shot that went just went as well… Yeah only 1 shot :-/
@Ciaran Rice: Yes, I know lots about AEK, more than you in fact. Their strengths were stronger than Celtics strengths, therefore, they go through, as the better team.
3 days ago you tried to convince me with some vitriol that Celtic were “top level”. This result proves that they are Europa league level, which FYI, is not the top level.
They can focus on winning another SPL.
Guess the sept-dec bandwagon celtic fans will have to switch their viewing to Thursday now
@Seamus Cummins: and no doubt you’ll be taking the time to comment about Celtic and their fans.
@Ciaran Rice: I sure will
@Seamus Cummins: hah, ya weirdo. All about the Celtic.
Cork City are the only Irish club left in Europe now!
@Florenzo McCarthy: Celtic are actually Scottish started by Irish people to help feed the poor Irish in Glasgow in the 19th century there is s history lesson for you lol
A bit of investment was needed especially with players struggling with injuries , europa will be challenging with that defence . Time for the board to come to the plate ?
@Tricksy: the board never invest until we make the knockout stage.that’s the problem.
Lack of investment was shameful
Unlucky enough though
Disaster but no surprise hendry at cb complete liability. 3 terrible goals concealed over the 2 legs. Board to blame wouldn’t blame Rogers for walking away if he did. Boyata was a complete disgrace not playing horrible professional.
As I said last week, Celtic are so bang average with very poor players that look good in the SPL.
Rogic was terrible, Forrest one trick pony, Brown past it. I’d say their embarrassed for not paying money to get McGinn.
They where bullied tonight against a pretty poor team that just hoofed it long. Rodgers record in Europe is also horrific, but he’ll win the league so it’ll be forgotten about.
@Benny Millar: Rogic is a cracking player but they made it difficult for him by swarming him with 3 men every time he got the ball. You could actually see them panic when he was on the ball.
Brown was untouchable over those two legs. Completely strolled it. Their midfielders couldn’t get anywhere near him hence the amount of times they resorted to booting him. I can only remember him losing the ball twice over those two matches.
McGinn, if he was bought, wouldn’t even have played that game tonight. He would have been on the bench.
Forrest was Celtics best player last season.
@Ciaran Rice: McGinn is a fantastic player and would have been an excellent replacement for an aging Brown. A right back and at least two other center backs were needed, as well as McGinn but the Celtic board seem content with SPFL mediocrity and nothing in Europe.
@Daniel Donovan: McGinn is a good player but he wasn’t even Hibs best midfielder last year, that was the man alongside him, Dylan McGeouch who Celtic let go because he couldn’t even make our bench. McGinn is not good enough to start in our midfield. Brown, whilst he is getting older is still just as good as ever.
The fact that we have not strengthened those areas is farcical.
If Celtic had their first choice centre back pairing, who I don’t rate, they would have strolled that tie no bother. As it is, the defence fecked it for the team. The rest of the team done their job in dominating the opposition.
Celtic ffs.Only a minnows club in a minnows league managed by a chancer with deluded fans .Joke of a club.
@Michael cunnane: ye ragin, mate.
@Michael cunnane: can’t like this twice. Poor ol brainwashed hailhail fans. This is a European competition, and not just for Scottish teams. Unfortunately for the celts, but they may still finish in the top two domestically.
@Michael cunnane: can’t like this twice. Poor old brainwashed hail hail fans. This is a European competition, and not just for Scottish teams. Unfortunately for the celts, but they may still finish in the top two domestically.
You have to laugh, when Celtic lose a game it always gets lots of comments on here. When they win a game they all disappear.
@Ciaran Rice: Also worth a laugh is a poster saying AEK couldn’t get near Celtic despite scoring 3 times, winning 1 game and drawing the other. Imagine they could get near Celtic then. They’d have won it by 10 goals presumably.
@grandslamkbo: you didn’t watch the games. Your opinion is redundant.
Think Brendan can start looking for another job!!!
Ha ha
Season over before it’s properly begun
The Scottish league is not competitive enough for the teams in it to compete with top teams in Europe. Maybe Europa league is best but some good teams there too for them.
@Seán Dillon: the Scottish League is not rich enough. Competition has nothing to do with it.
Scotland was one of the most competitive leagues in Europe last year. More competitive than Germany, England, Spain and France. It’s not competition that helps side sin the champions league. It’s TV cash.
Great stuff
Ha ha