UEFA Europa League
Group G
Matchday Two
Thursday, September 30
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 0

BAYER LEVERKUSEN… 4
(Hincapie 24, Wirtz 35, Alario 57pen, Adil 90+4)

It was a tough European night at Paradise for Celtic as two goals in either half for Bayer Leverkusen gave the German side a 4-0 victory on matchday two of the UEFA Europa League group stages.

The game started at a frantic pace and Leverkusen had a shot on target inside the first 20 seconds, although Joe Hart dealt comfortably with it.

Just over a minute later and the German side did have the ball in the net, but Lucas Alario’s header was ruled out for offside.

Seconds later, Celtic had a great chance when Kyogo was sent through on goal. He rounded the keeper, but a defensive tackle took the ball off his toes and out for a corner.

And from that resulting set-piece, Callum McGregor fired in a right-foot shot from 25 yards out which took a deflection and landed on the roof of the net.

It had been a breathtaking start to the contest and there was no let-up in the pace of the game.

Adam Montgomery and Jota were combining well down the left-hand side, and Montgomery set up Tom Rogic on 14 minutes, but his shot from just inside the box went just over.

Four minutes later and Kyogo had another great chance. He laid the ball off to Liel Abada and then raced through for the return ball, latching on to it and firing a goalbound shot which Hradecky in the Leverkusen goal managed to save with his foot.

And from the corner, Carl Starfelt fired in a shot on the turn from just inside the area which the keeper pushed away.

However, on 24 minutes Leverkusen grabbed the lead. Mitchel Bakker dispossessed David Turnbull inside the Celtic area and slotted the ball back into the path of Piero Huncapie, who slotted the ball into the net despite an attempt by Montgomery to clear it on the line.

It was a blow to Ange Postecoglou’s side and things got worse on 35 minutes when Leverkusen doubled their lead with a goal on the counter-attack.

The ball was threaded into the inside left area for Paulinho who then slotted a ball into the path of Florian Wirtz to finish.

Tough night at Paradise as Celts lose out to Leverkusen