Celtic beaten by Leverkusen four goals

A promising Celtic start was undone by a string of defensive lapses as Bayer Leverkusen ruthlessly

punished their hosts to take victory in their Europa League meeting in Glasgow.

A frantic game played in front of an, at times, raucous crowd raged in the opening minutes,

before Piero Hincapie finished after David Turnbull’s slip.

Florian Wirtz chipped the ball over Joe Hart to make it 2-0, Lucas Hilario’s penalty killed Celtic’s second-half momentum

before substitute Amine Adli smashed in a fourth with the last kick.

Defeat leaves Celtic bottom of Group G with zero points with a double header against also winless Ferencvaros to come next,

while Leverkusen, whose fourth was just reward for a glut of late surges, have a 100% record alongside Real Betis.

The surprise returns of Kyogo Furuhashi and captain Callum McGregor to the Celtic XI after injuries sent an electricity around

Celtic Park pre-match, as the fans sensed their chances of victory amid a poor run of form were suddenly revived.

Their optimism initially proved well-judged as – after surviving an offside goal for Wirtz inside one minute

they played with pace and vigour, only to be undone by defensive mistakes and inspired Luka Hradecky in the Leverkusen goal.

Kyogo in particular was outstanding as his movement reinvigorated a recently stunted Celtic.

The Japanese forward was first denied by a stunning covering tackle from Jonathan Tah,

while Hradecky saved his efforts either

Jota was also lively, and was himself prevented spectacularly by Hradecky as Ange Postecoglou’s side desperately attempted to

avoid a fifth defeat in eight games.

But as has been the theme of Celtic’s season, slackness cost them dearly against a quality Leverkusen side with just one defeat

this season – a 4-3 loss to Borussia Dortmund.

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