Celtic 2-1 RB Leipzig: Edouard strike earns victory and keeps Europa League knockout hopes alive - BBC Sport
Europa League - Group B
CelticCeltic2RB LeipzigRB Leipzig1

Celtic 2-1 RB Leipzig: Edouard strike earns victory and keeps Europa League knockout hopes alive

By Jonathan SutherlandBBC Scotland at Celtic Park
Odsonne Edouard tapped in Celtic's winner just a minute after Leipzig had equalised
Odsonne Edouard tapped in Celtic's winner just a minute after Leipzig had equalised

Celtic scored 14 seconds after conceding to secure a dramatic victory over RB Leipzig to keep their Europa League dreams on track.

Leipzig's Jean-Kevin Augustin equalised with a header on 78 minutes but straight from the restart Odsonne Edouard struck back.

Knowing defeat could eliminate them with two games left, Kieran Tierney had put the hosts ahead early on.

Celtic sit third in Group B, level with Leipzig, but trail on head-to-head.

The Scottish champions travel to Trondheim to face Rosenborg next on November 29, before finishing at home to Salzburg a fortnight later.

In a frenetic finish, Kevin Kampl struck the bar for the visitors and then blazed over when clean through on goal to ensure the Scottish side secured a vital victory.

Celtic rediscover European magic

The much talked about "disco lights" that were installed at Celtic Park in the summer - reportedly worth over £2millionexternal-link - had their European bow, but initially it was RB Leipzig that lit up Celtic Park.

The Germans threatened to spoil the party as they were right on top of Celtic for the first 10 minutes. But it was James Forrest who grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck for the Scottish champions.

The winger drove at Leipzig before flashing a ball across the penalty area for Tierney who more than matched the initiative shown by Forrest by lashing the ball home.

It sent an electrical pulse through the stadium as the home fans suddenly sensed this could be one of those heady nights where the Celtic momentum would sweep a dangerous opponent aside and end with the result that was required.

Alas, life for Scottish sides in European football is rarely that simple.

At times in the second half it felt like there was wave after wave of Celtic attack, but the goals would simply not flow.

And then came the cruel blow as the quality of RB Leipzig sliced Celtic open as the Germans equalised. Kevin-Augustin ghosted in at the back post, unmarked, to nod home.

The reaction from the Scottish champions was fantastic. Up the field they swept, Christie crossed for Edouard who fired home from point blank range.

Suddenly the disappointment of the equaliser was forgotten by the home faithful. It was a goal of real character in a compelling match.

Celtic's 'disco lights'
Celtic's 'disco lights' set the tone for a dramatic night at Celtic Park

Plenty of work ahead for Celtic to qualify- analysis

This result still leaves RB Leipzig with the advantage over Celtic. Both sides are on six points, but then it comes down to head-to-head and goal difference between tied teams - which means advantage RB Leipzig, 3-2 on aggregate.

After this result, Celtic's fate is now out of their hands. With them unable to overturn the head-to-head record, they must simply try and replicate this performance which Rodgers has waited for and hope their German counterparts slip up.

It is not over yet for Celtic but they have plenty to do.

Young Scots shine on European stage

Former Scotland defender Willie Miller on BBC Scotland's Sportsound

Ryan Christie has been handed the chance through circumstances, through injuries, and he's come into the Celtic team and he's been outstanding. Not just in playing in a Celtic team that's playing at a high level, but playing against quality opposition as well.

He's now really putting in performances that are saying to Brendan Rodgers, even if he's not going to be starting he's going to be a big part of his plans going forward.

Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, Christie and James Forrest, the four of them were brilliant. And when you throw Craig Gordon in the mix it's not a bad back-bone of a Scotland team.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on BBC Scotland's Sportsound

I think if Ryan Christie keeps performing like he did tonight, it's going to be very difficult for Brendan Rodgers to leave him out. The energy he put in, the runs tonight, that's what Stuart Armstrong used to do.

It's magnificent to see a Scottish player going out and performing against a good Leipzig team. Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and James Forrest as well though, all good young Scottish players performing at that level, that's what we want to see and they did it really well.

Line-ups

Celtic

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Gordon
  • 23Lustig
  • 20Boyata
  • 32BenkovicBooked at 34mins
  • 63TierneyBooked at 51mins
  • 42McGregor
  • 17Christie
  • 49ForrestSubstituted forMulumbuat 83'minutes
  • 18Rogic
  • 11SinclairSubstituted forAjerat 90'minutes
  • 22Edouard

Substitutes

  • 4Hendry
  • 15Hayes
  • 16Morgan
  • 27Mulumbu
  • 29Bain
  • 35Ajer
  • 56Ralston

RB Leipzig

Formation 4-3-3

  • 28Mvogo
  • 22MukieleSubstituted forDemmeat 70'minutes
  • 4Orban
  • 5Upamecano
  • 3SaracchiSubstituted forHalstenbergat 16'minutesBooked at 44mins
  • 7SabitzerBooked at 63mins
  • 13IlsankerSubstituted forKamplat 45'minutes
  • 27LaimerBooked at 55mins
  • 20Matheus Cunha
  • 29AugustinBooked at 17mins
  • 17Tué Na Bangna

Substitutes

  • 6Konaté
  • 16Klostermann
  • 21Müller
  • 23Halstenberg
  • 31Demme
  • 40Majetschak
  • 44Kampl
Referee:
Javier Estrada Fernández
Attendance:
56,027

Match Stats

Home TeamCelticAway TeamRB Leipzig
Possession
Home47%
Away53%
Shots
Home10
Away17
Shots on Target
Home4
Away5
Corners
Home4
Away9
Fouls
Home16
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Celtic 2, RB Leipzig 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Celtic 2, RB Leipzig 1.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Celtic. Craig Gordon tries a through ball, but Odsonne Edouard is caught offside.

  4. Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Kristoffer Ajer replaces Scott Sinclair.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Kevin Kampl (RB Leipzig) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Jean-Kévin Augustin.

  6. Post update

    Hand ball by Matheus Cunha (RB Leipzig).

  7. Post update

    Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Filip Benkovic.

  8. Post update

    Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Youssouf Mulumbu.

  9. Post update

    Kevin Kampl (RB Leipzig) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Matheus Cunha.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Youssouf Mulumbu replaces James Forrest.

  11. Post update

    Offside, RB Leipzig. Konrad Laimer tries a through ball, but Bruma is caught offside.

  12. Post update

    Bruma (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).

  14. Post update

    Offside, RB Leipzig. Marcel Sabitzer tries a through ball, but Jean-Kévin Augustin is caught offside.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Diego Demme (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  16. Goal!

    Goal! Celtic 2, RB Leipzig 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Christie.

  17. Goal!

    Goal! Celtic 1, RB Leipzig 1. Jean-Kévin Augustin (RB Leipzig) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Konrad Laimer with a cross.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).

  19. Post update

    Bruma (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jean-Kévin Augustin (RB Leipzig) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bruma.

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Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 8th November 2018

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1B Leverkusen430110739
2Zürich43015329
3Ludogorets402235-22
4AEK Larnaca402236-32

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1RB Salzburg4400145912
2RB Leipzig42028626
3Celtic420246-26
4Rosenborg4004312-90

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Zenit St Petersburg42205328
2Slavia Prague42112117
3FC Copenhagen41213305
4Bordeaux401336-31

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Dinamo Zagreb4400113812
2Fenerbahçe42117617
3Spartak Trnava410337-43
4Anderlecht401327-51

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Arsenal431082610
2Sporting42114227
3Vorskla Poltava410347-33
4FK Qarabag410316-53

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Real Betis42206248
2AC Milan42116427
3Olympiakos42118447
4F91 Dudelange4004111-100

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Villarreal413010556
2Spartak Moscow412178-15
3Rangers41218715
4Rapid Vienna411238-54

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Frankfurt4400114712
2Lazio43018719
3Marseille401359-41
4Apollon Limassol401359-41

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1KRC Genk42118627
2Sarpsborg 0841216605
3Malmö FF41214405
4Besiktas411268-24

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FK Krasnodar43016429
2Sevilla4301155109
3Standard Liege420269-36
4Akhisarspor4004312-90

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FC Astana42207438
2Dynamo Kyiv42209638
3Rennes410348-43
4FK Jablonec402257-22

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea440061512
2MOL Vidi42023306
3PAOK Salonika410345-13
4BATE Borisov410348-43
View full Europa League tables