AC MILAN KEPT their Champions League hopes alive with a 3-0 thrashing of Celtic that ended a miserable seven-game winless run and sent the Scottish side crashing out of Europe.
Ajax’s 2-1 win over Barcelona means the Dutch champions and Milan will battle it out for second place while Celtic, who will finish bottom of Group H, head to the Nou Camp on matchday six with nothing but pride to play for.
Milan, who hadn’t won away in Europe in almost a year, got off to the perfect start at Celtic’s Parkhead ground on Tuesday when Kaka found himself with time and space to head home a 12th minute corner.
The Hoops were left to rue a missed opportunity for Virgil van Dijk just after the break when Cristian Zapata increased Milan’s advantage with a 49th minute tap-in.
Van Dijk had a header chopped off for offside minutes later before Mario Balotelli ended Celtic’s hopes when his strike made it 3-0 in the 59th minute as Milan became only the second side to defeat the Hoops at home in the group stages of the Champions League.
The win leaves Milan in second spot on eight points — a point ahead of Ajax – and eases the pressure on coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has come in for criticism following his side’s poor domestic form that saw fans protest outside the San Siro following a 1-1 draw with Genoa at the weekend.
Celtic were without captain Scott Brown and Nir Biton due to suspension for the must-win match while Joe Ledley dropped to the bench. Winger James Forrest, who earlier on Tuesday was arrested in connection with two alleged public indecencies, started the match.
The 22-year-old had been reported to the procurator fiscal (Scotland’s public prosecutor) over the alleged offences in Prestwick, south-west of Glasgow, earlier this month.
AC Milan arrived in Glasgow with a lengthy injury list, defender Philippe Mexes and midfielder Sulley Muntari joining Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio and goalkeeper Marco Amelia in being ruled out.
Celtic were presented with a great early chance when Charlie Mulgrew’s effort fell kindly to Beram Kayal inside the box but the midfielder couldn’t adjust his feet quickly enough and Zapata recovered to make a last-ditch saving tackle.The Hoops were left to rue that miss moments later when Brazil star Kaka slipped marker Van Dijk to easily head home Valter Birsa’s corner from close range.
Celtic were again the recipients of a ball breaking kindly to them in the Milan box but this time Mulgrew sent his weak shot straight at Christian Abbiati.
Balotelli had the ball in the net again just before the break after he chased after a long ball over the top but the flag was already up for offside.
The Hoops should have been level in the 47th minute. Mulgrew’s cross found Van Dijk eight yards out but he sent his volley straight at Abbiati when he had the whole goal to aim for.
The Dutch defender’s misery was compounded two minutes later when Milan doubled their advantage.
Birsa’s deep corner was fired back across goal by substitute Antonio Nocerino for Zapata to side-foot home from close range.
Van Dijk thought he had made some amends in the 51st minute when he headed Joe Ledley’s cross beyond Abbiati but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Any hope Celtic had was ended in the 59th minute when Balotelli made it 3-0.
The Italian striker collected a long ball from Riccardo Montolivo and shrugged off the challenge of Efe Ambrose before sending an angled shot past helpless goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
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Doris is the obvious choice. He is a guaranteed first choice in the starting XV in the years to come, a natural leader, cool-headed, disciplined, and he has an excellent rapport with referees.
@Brian Vales: I wasn’t expecting to see his name on the list, but it does make sense. I wonder though, why he has never been named as a captain before?(even for Leinster). I would like to see himself or Ringrose… but I have a sneaky suspicion it will be James Ryan. If it is, it will make or break him. POM deserves it, but it would be very much a short term, sentimental decision and I really don’t see the benefit.
@Brian Vales: 23 bit young yet
@Sèan: 25 ah mayby his time but i see ryan as captain
@Sèan: Lots of great captains start when they are early to mid twenties. McCaw, BOD and Dupont to name a few.
@Brian Vales: Nah, had a v quiet WC, he’ll be holding his place for a few seasons methinks, but captain? Dont be silly
@Paul Ennis: yes but we never name young captains and we never start young guys i mean aged 18 are 19 look scott penny still not capped
@Sèan: BOD was a young captain. Scott Penny may never be capped in a full blooded test and that’s nothing to do with age, more to do with size. We don’t take the risks that England, NZ and SA might take with a young player, but then our resources (of young starlets) are much thinner. Young players tend to be a little more fragile so the Irish setups like to mind them for longer. Not saying the Irish way is better, but it works for us and leads to a maximum % of our U20s completing the journey into professionalism.
@Paul Ennis: yes i agree hopefully it willchange
Ryan for me
@Sèan: If it aint broken
@Thesaltyurchin: had an amazing last few years hope he will be back good as new
@Sèan: Cant agree. still think he has form to find. but do agree he should be captain moving forward.
@Thesaltyurchin: being world class last 2 years didnt have a great game v SA and all the fans saying this haha crazy
@Sèan: I think Ryan’s game sometimes suffers with the extra responsibilities of captaincy.
@John Morris: mayby
Good big leadership group with Furlong, Ryan, Henderson, Doris, VDF, Ringrose, Aki, Keenan to name but a few. Probably Ryan for me. Would prefer a captain from the pack. Special mention to Aki, he really lead by example in this tournament and was superb and inspiring.
@Arjuna: hopefully aki at 33 has lot more years sexton 38 aki be 37 next world cup
The usual suspects, but 2027 is not an option for some and surely it’s a 4yr plan, not a 2yr fix? How about ‘none of the above’ ? Although there’s no need for wholesale changes in playing personnel in the immediate term, a refreshed psyche might be just what we need to go back to back slams for the first time and make 2024 an unbeaten year.
@John Morris: Has to be someone though. And who can be certain of their place in the team for the next 4 years? (I’d say the answer to that question is Porter and Sheehan btw). Personally I’d go for Ringrose – also helps that he usually plays the full 80 minutes
@Kevin Ryan: I’ll give you Garry on mature reflection!
Ryan is the safe choice here but I could see others coming up in the next cycle as outside bets , the likes of Penny & Prendergast could be knocking on the captaincy door by 2026
@Owen ODonoghue: one game at a time
The first task of the new captain is to take on a wounded France in defence of our 6N’s title. Be prepared for an experienced player like Pete, JR, or Henderson.
The issue with Ryan is that he is no longer a nailed on starter for Ireland and you cannot skipper a team from the bench. Peter O’Mahony is the obvious choice at least for next season
@john buckley: why he longer nailed starter last two years he has being amaxing one so called poor game v SA and all saying this
He has never been dropped before – particularly for what was, at the time, a vital game. I am not saying that he will not regain his place but he has to show more more than his recent displays in France, which got him benched in the first place. He may be better off, at least in the short term, concentrating on himself, without the additional pressure of being captain.
@john buckley: ok but he has beingworld class last 2 years had one bad game must remember you cant play brillent every game could say that about every player right