Europa League: 10-man Celtic beaten by Valencia

By Alasdair Lamont at the MestallaBBC Scotland

Last updated on 21 February 2019.From the section Europa League210

Celtic's Jeremy Toljan, centre, was dismissed eight minutes before the break

Celtic's Europa League campaign ended at the last-32 stage for the second successive season as they were knocked out by Valencia.

Their task in the second leg always looked formidable, given they had never overturned a two-goal deficit away from home, nor had they won in Spain.

A creditable first-half performance was marred by Jeremy Toljan's dismissal for twice pulling back Goncalo Guedes.

And Celtic finally conceded when Kevin Gameiro forced home from close range.

While the Glasgow side were passive last week at Celtic Park, they were far more aggressive at the Mestalla.

Jonny Hayes shot over for the visitors, while Kristoffer Ajer also went close with the game still goalless.

Hopes faded with Toljan exit

It would be stretching it to suggest Toljan's red card was a pivotal point in the tie, with Valencia well in command following their 2-0 win at Celtic Park last week.

But Celtic had at least given them food for thought, with a 3-4-3 formation offering a much more solid look and their use of the ball far improved.

Ajer had a goalbound shot blocked and Jozo Simunovic's header was comfortably saved as Celtic searched for the opening goal that would bring the tie alive. Ajer would also bullet a glorious header over the bar later in the match with the game still goalless.

But their faint hopes of recovery vanished as Toljan was punished twice in quick succession for dragging Guedes down after allowing him to get goal-side.

That prompted Valencia to waken from their slumbers and Scott Bain saved brilliantly twice before half-time - keeping out a Daniel Parejo shot that had deflected off Ryan Christie, then tipping away Santi Mina's net-bound effort.

He and the rest of the Celtic defence stood firm for 25 minutes of the second half in the face of increasing pressure before finally buckling.

Guedes' fabulous diagonal ball from the left was headed into the six-yard box by the advanced full-back Daniel Wass, and Gameiro - only just on the field - bundled it through the legs of Bain with his knee.

The Celtic keeper was called upon twice more before the end but that was as damaging as it got for Celtic, though the principal wounds were inflicted in Glasgow a week ago.

Kris Ajer spurned a headed chance minutes before Valencia scored

Tangible progress in Europe no closer - analysis

Just as overcoming Zenit St Petersburg last season proved a bridge too far for Brendan Rodgers' side, the team sitting ninth in La Liga were also too good for the Scottish champions.

While they continue to sweep away all before them domestically - with a treble treble still a possibility - tangible progress on the European front looks no closer.

Certainly, there is a financial disparity between Zenit, Valencia and Celtic, but the same was true when both Glasgow clubs reached the final of the Uefa Cup.

Both Martin O'Neill and Walter Smith found ways to overcome teams like Liverpool and Werder Bremen, outdoing them tactically, maximising the undoubted talent in their squads.

Celtic, in three seasons under Rodgers, have yet to claim a really noteworthy scalp.

Match stats

Celtic have not won a knockout away game in Europe since beating Boavista 1-0 in April 2003, losing eight of their nine games since. They have also failed to score on all nine occasions
They have never won away from home against a Spanish side (P18 W0 D3 L15), losing to Valencia three times.
Celtic have failed to score in consecutive European games for the first time since September 2016.
Toljan was the second Celtic player to receive a red card in this season's Europa League after James Forrest's sending-off against Red Bull Salzburg in October

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Valencia

Formation 4-4-2

13Neto
18WassSubstituted forLee Kang-inat 76'minutes
24GaraySubstituted forCoquelinat 23'minutes
12DiakhabyBooked at 53mins
15Latorre Grueso
20F Torres
8Soler
10Parejo
7Gonçalo Guedes
22Mina Lorenzo
23SobrinoSubstituted forGameiroat 68'minutes

Substitutes

1Doménech
9Gameiro
11Cheryshev
14Gayá
16Lee Kang-in
17Coquelin
32Centelles

Celtic

Formation 5-4-1

29Bain
2ToljanBooked at 37mins
35Ajer
20Boyata
5Simunovic
15HayesBooked at 58mins
49ForrestSubstituted forEdouardat 63'minutes
8BrownBooked at 24mins
42McGregor
17Christie
25BurkeSubstituted forJohnstonat 73'minutes

Substitutes

1Gordon
3Izaguirre
11Sinclair
22Edouard
23Lustig
30Weah
73Johnston

Referee:: Deniz Aytekin
Attendance:: 36,619

Match Stats

Home TeamValenciaAway TeamCeltic

Possession: Home55%; Away45%

Shots: Home15; Away13

Shots on Target: Home6; Away2

Corners: Home7; Away2

Fouls: Home10; Away12

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Valencia 1, Celtic 0.
90'+3'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Valencia 1, Celtic 0.

90'+2'
Post update
Attempt saved. Lee Kang-In (Valencia) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin Gameiro.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin Gameiro (Valencia) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ferrán Torres.
90'+1'
Post update
Kevin Gameiro (Valencia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Jozo Simunovic (Celtic).
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Michael Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
90'
Post update
Attempt saved. Santi Mina (Valencia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ferrán Torres with a cross.
88'
Post update
Attempt missed. Santi Mina (Valencia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Gonçalo Guedes.
84'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lee Kang-In (Valencia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ferrán Torres.
82'
Post update
Foul by Ferrán Torres (Valencia).
82'
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
82'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
81'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Gonçalo Guedes (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Lato.
79'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
76'
Post update
Foul by Francis Coquelin (Valencia).
76'
Post update
Jonny Hayes (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76'
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Lee Kang-In replaces Daniel Wass.
75'
Post update
Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Dedryck Boyata.
75'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Santi Mina (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin Gameiro.

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210 comments

Comment posted by whl1972, at 01:29 22 Feb 2019
Rodgers blaming the referee I see, ‘red card took the game away from us’. No Brendan, losing 0-2 at home did that. Delusional & incompetent.
Comment posted by Andy Hlinka, at 01:02 22 Feb 2019
I think Brown will be dizzy for a week, he hadn't a clue what was going on
Comment posted by Rafa1986, at 03:28 22 Feb 2019
So now the foreign refs are in on the conspiracy.

Always someone else's fault, innit Brendan.
Comment posted by davidindevon, at 01:17 22 Feb 2019
On what planet, or just how biased does a so called journalist have to be, to call that dreadful team ‘plucky’? They were no such thing. They were just about devoid of ideas and Brown, as captain, is a joke. More akin to a mobster than midfielder. Despite Rodger’s claims the sending off was correct. A normal Celtic European performance. Dire.
Comment posted by david4663, at 06:13 22 Feb 2019
Nevermind Celtic, at least you have the fancy lights for the big league games against Livi and St Mirren!
Comment posted by Footy_fan, at 01:13 22 Feb 2019
Laughing stock of Europe
Comment posted by U16805582, at 07:04 22 Feb 2019
@43
I take it you must have the missed 'recent times' in comments of @6. Deary me you must pay more attention or you will never pass your GCSE in woodwork.

Recent times, I would suggest, is the last 4 or 5 years, Considering 9 or the last 10 competions played in that period have been won by Spanish team. EPL 'greatest league in the world'; ho ho ho all money but no class.
Comment posted by Huggie, at 01:56 22 Feb 2019
Frankly think I could achieve as much as BR has at Celtic. Domestic dominance is easy when you have financial superiority over everyone else and can pick and choose players.

Failing miserably in Europe every year is indicative of Rodgers lack of management
Comment posted by U17207440, at 00:34 22 Feb 2019
Bouncing back from adversity is in the Celtic squad's "make-up", according to boss Brendan Rodgers, as the Scottish champions prepare to face Valencia.

======

Great bants Brendan. Lol
Comment posted by U16805582, at 05:27 22 Feb 2019
@7. Footy_fan

Laughing stock of Europe yep Man UTD 0, PSG 2, now that is real good laugh.
Comment posted by Myself, at 07:06 22 Feb 2019
15. LOL! Excellent result. Scotland's shame out of Europe again.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Rangers 2012 founded by Charles Green have been out of Europe since December when they finished 3rd in their group. Strange time for you to bring them up!?
Comment posted by Hark the Highland Granny, at 06:35 22 Feb 2019
Why is it newsworthy that Celtic have been knocked out again in the early stages of a second tier European competition? It's an annual event, a bit like Christmas, but more fun.
Comment posted by HackedBBCAccount, at 01:55 22 Feb 2019
LOL! Excellent result. Scotland's shame out of Europe again.
Comment posted by U17517742, at 01:16 22 Feb 2019
They need to bring in Scottish referees! You just couldn't write it. Hilarious!
Comment posted by U17494693, at 18:39 22 Feb 2019
Celtic's man of the match " for me " Hayes.

Moment of the match , Sott Brown letting 1-2 shots fly 😎
Comment posted by Calder, at 12:14 22 Feb 2019
Has anyone worked out Rodgers defensive system, zonal, man marking, act like wheelie bins and hope to get in the way ?
Comment posted by Football_understand, at 09:48 22 Feb 2019
Come in peace....

Fair play, Celtic actually played well last night, think Valencia had done the job in Glasgow already but a decent performance.

Scottish co-efficient has risen 6 places because of Rangers and Celtic this season

Something very positive for the Scottish game.
Comment posted by U17494693, at 09:28 22 Feb 2019
Here you have the difference between Scottish football and English football !

Arsenal greettin about a early kick-off , that's how we had empty seats ! 🙄

Even St Mirren or Hamilton would have a full house in a Europa last 32.....at any time you want ! ( no dis-respect )

Scottish fitba has heart , keep yer money !
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 07:32 22 Feb 2019
This tie was lost when Celtic got beat 0-2 at home. Brendan Rogers cant possibly say the red card took the game away. The red card was justified as Tolijan should have got the message with the first yellow that you cant go pulling players back in from t of the referee. Truth is plain and simple and that is Celtic are not good enough to compete in Europe.
Comment posted by U16805582, at 06:53 22 Feb 2019
@36 Lasagne295 - all real football fans do
Real fans? good one, most of the comments are from sad little trolls from no mark teams who whine about how it's so unfair that the big clubs have all the money, yet, are quite happy to take the TV & gate money revenue that these same clubs generate for them.
Only time their team is in Europe is when they are in Benidorm for their 2 week summer hols