Win or bust in Italy the stiff task facing Celtic

Celtic 0 Atletico Madrid 1:CELTIC HAVE belied the theory that the Europa League would prove an irritation this season. Their situation is simple; a win at Udinese in a fortnight will secure an unlikely progression for Neil Lennon's team. The manager issued an instant "of course" when asked if he would have accepted such a scenario before a ball was kicked in the section. Atletico Madrid's win secured their own passage to the knockout phase.

While the visitors had the better chances, Celtic were far from outclassed. “They matched Atletico Madrid for most of the game, if not bettered them,” said Lennon.

Despite an Adrian Lopez chance which arrived after Celtic’s Daniel Majstorovic and Fraser Forster failed to deal with a cross, the home side started in the ascendancy. Georgios Samaras forced goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into a smart save. Better was to follow from Courtois, the goalkeeper showing excellent reactions to bat away an Anthony Stokes header.

For far from the first occasion this season, it was another set-play which led to Celtic falling behind. The defence only partially cleared Diego’s corner and Arda Turan returned the ball with interest. Still, it looked poor that Beram Kayal chose to duck under the half-volley and Forster failed to save it.

Celtic’s cause was further hampered by the departure of their left-back, Joe Ledley, with a twisted ankle. Lennon’s next change, made during the interval, led to the striker Gary Hooper replacing Victor Wanyama. Atletico came close to doubling their lead within 10 minutes of the restart, when Eduardo Salvio’s effort ran along the Celtic goalline. A brief sense of Celtic injustice followed. Hooper had the ball in the net after Charlie Mulgrew headed a corner into his path, but the effort was disallowed for offside. A knock-on from Stokes, rather than the Mulgrew header, seemed to prompt that.

Celtic were perhaps lucky with 15 minutes to play, when Majstorovic handled inside his penalty area. Atletico’s tame protests did little to persuade the referee. At the other end, Ki Sung-yueng’s free-kick was saved by Courtois. Lennon introduced his fit-again captain Scott Brown, to a tame reception. Brown has agreed terms on a new contract but a dispute over an agent’s fee means the deal remains unsigned.

CELTIC: Forster, Matthews, Majstorovic, Loovens, Ledley (Mulgrew 38), Forrest, Wanyama (Hooper 46), Kayal, Ki, Stokes (Brown 76), Samaras. Subs not used: Zaluska, Bangura, McCourt, Filip Twardzik. Booked: Majstorovic, Ki.

ATLETICO MADRID: Courtois, Godin, Miranda, Perea, Filipe Luis, Salvio, Mario Suarez, Turan (Juanfran 79), Gabi (Paulo Assuncao 90), Diego, Adrian (Falcao 67). Subs not used: Sergio Asenjo, Reyes, Dominguez, Koke. Booked: Gabi, Miranda, Perea.

Referee: Eric Braamhar (Netherlands).