Nine-Man Celtic lose to Feyenoord in Champions League Opener
In a scrappy Champions League Group E clash, Feyenoord displayed their ruthlessness as they defeated a disheartened Celtic side 2-0. The Scottish champions found themselves down to nine men in a matter of minutes, with Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke and Norway's Odin Thiago Holm both shown straight red cards for late challenges during the second half.
Celtic started brightly but struggled to regain their momentum after the red cards. Feyenoord's Iranian striker Alireza Jahanbakhsh sealed the victory for the Dutch champions in the 76th minute with a powerful strike, capitalizing on a well-executed play to beat Hoops keeper Joe Hart.
The hosts took the lead just one minute into injury time in the first half when Dutch international Calvin Stengs fired a long-range free kick through Celtic's poorly constructed wall, finding the net despite Hart's efforts to palm the ball away. It was a bitter outcome for Celtic, who had dominated the first half. Despite the challenging weather conditions, a packed crowd of 51,000 at Feyenoord's "De Kuip" stadium provided a hostile atmosphere throughout the match.
Feyenoord came into the game in excellent form, having remained undefeated in the Dutch top flight and scoring at least five goals in their last three matches. However, it was Celtic who had the better of the opening exchanges, with opportunities for Japan international striker Daizen Maeda and summer signing Luis Palma making his Celtic debut.
Feyenoord struggled to create dangerous chances until 19-year-old Gambian striker Yankuba Minteh forced Hart to make a save from long range just before halftime. But Dutch under-21 international midfielder Quinten Timber earned a free-kick from about 30 yards out, giving Stengs the opportunity to secure Feyenoord's halftime lead.
Feyenoord appeared revitalized in the second half after taking the lead, while Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made early substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the match. Unfortunately for Celtic, any hopes of a comeback were dashed by the two red cards.
Hart redeemed himself with a crucial penalty save in the 65th minute after Lagerbielke fouled the Brazilian striker Igor Paixao in the box. Feyenoord had chances for a third goal, but defender Lutsharel Geertruida's effort was ruled out for offside. Another Feyenoord goal was disallowed in injury time, also due to an offside call.
Both clubs have a rich European history, most notably meeting in the final of the European Cup in 1970, with Feyenoord emerging as victors with a 2-1 win – their only competitive match against each other.
In recent years, both teams have faced challenges in the Champions League. Feyenoord last reached the group stage in 2017-2018, finishing bottom behind Manchester City, Napoli, and Shakhtar Donetsk. Celtic had a difficult campaign last season, finishing at the bottom of their group and suffering a 5-1 loss to Real Madrid.
What's Next? Celtic will aim to recover and regroup for their next Champions League match on October 4th, while Feyenoord looks to build on their strong start in the competition.
SportsLigue