Celtic vs Atletico Madrid. UEFA Champions League Group E.
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Report as Atletico Madrid twice come from behind to claim 2-2 draw at Celtic; Kyogo Furuhashi scored early opener before Antoine Griezmann converted rebound from penalty; Luis Palma put Celtic back in front but Alvaro Morata secured a point for Atletico, who had Rodrigo De Paul sent off
Thursday 26 October 2023 18:12, UK
Celtic have now gone 13 games and more than six years without a Champions League win after 10-player Atletico Madrid twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw at Parkhead.
Feyenoord's victory over Lazio earlier on Wednesday meant Celtic could not move off the bottom of Group E regardless of their result against Atletico, further emphasising the need to earn their first points in Europe this season.
The hosts twice took the lead in the first half through Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma, who netted shortly after Antoine Griezmann had netted the rebound from his own penalty.
Celtic played with pace, purpose and confidence in the first half and both goals came after excellent moves, but they could not keep up the tempo after the break and Alvaro Morata levelled eight minutes into the second half.
Rodgers said: "I thought it was a terrific performance, especially the first 45 minutes - the quality of our football, the speed in our pressing and in our game, everything we would want.
"We were unfortunate with the penalty. One, it was very harsh, and, two, they got the good fortune after the save hits the post and comes straight to the player.
"But our reaction was superb, everything I wanted in terms of playing together, pressing and the intensity and a really aggressive mentality and then having the courage to play.
"We expected them second half to have a spell in the game but they didn't create so much. Their equaliser was fantastic, the early cross and great finish.
"But we kept fighting and showed we can compete with a top-level team.
"It will give us confidence to know we can create opportunities and play the football we want to play. The team pressed the game well and passed it for a lot of the game."
Celtic will no doubt take heart from going toe to toe with a genuine European heavyweight such as Atletico, who had won their last six games in all competitions.
But failing to reap the rewards their performances deserve is a familiar tale in Europe for Celtic, who impressed at home to Lazio in their previous Champions League game before losing in stoppage time.
Kyogo’s well-worked early goal was fully merited as Celtic harried Atletico into mistakes, with the home crowd providing a hostile atmosphere for the Spaniards to work in.
But Antoine Griezmann - comfortably the best player on the field - began to take control and stepped up to take the penalty when Greg Taylor clumsily fouled Nahuel Molina.
The France forward’s spot-kick was tipped onto the post by Joe Hart but the rebound was cruel to the Celtic ‘keeper, falling back at the feet of Griezmann, who levelled the scores at the second attempt.
But instead of crumbling at that setback, Celtic hit back impressively, with Daizen Maeda’s low cross picking out Luis Palma, who smashed the ball off the far post and into the net.
Jan Oblak had to make a sharp save to stop O’Riley making it 3-1 and Diego Simeone had seen enough by half-time, introducing Marcos Llorente as one of two changes at the break.
The midfielder quickly made an impact, claiming the assist for Morata’s smart header when Taylor provided too much room for his devilish cross.
Llorente then saw a shot deflected into the side-netting and Hart kicked away a sharp Angel Correa effort as Atletico began to turn the screw, only for Rodrigo De Paul to get sent off for a needless second yellow.
But Celtic did not look as though they could decide whether to go for the win or settle for a point - so Atletico decided for them.
Simeone's side camped inside their own half to ensure they headed back to Madrid with a draw that keeps them in second place in Group E - four points above Celtic with just three matches to play.
Brendan Rodgers described Celtic's performance as "absolutely superb", adding to TNT Sports: "We scored two outstanding goals. That first 45 minutes, against a top team, we were great.
"Atletico have got big quality but the guys kept fighting until the very end. It was a brilliant performance against a very talented side and shows the growth of the team."
Celtic must make up a three-point gap on third-placed Lazio if they want to enter the Europa League this season and a four-point gap on Atletico if they hope to reach the Champions League knockouts.
However, when asked whether the result against the 2014 and 2016 finalists showed Celtic can be hopeful of playing European football after Christmas, Rodgers said: "I’m not really thinking about that. We’ve got a very good point."
Rodgers may have insisted in his post-match press conference that he is not bothered about talk over his record in the Champions League, but it merits discussion.
After taking charge of 21 matches in the competition - six with Liverpool and 15 with Celtic - over nine years, the 50-year-old has only beaten Ludogorets and Anderlecht.
In fact, winning fewer than 10 per cent of his matches gives Rodgers the worst record of any manager to take charge of more than 20 Champions League games.
The stats are, of course, skewed by the fact the majority of his time in the competition has come with Celtic, but the draw with Atletico felt like a missed opportunity for Rodgers and his side to claim a first Champions League win since 2017.
With the game in the balance midway through the second half, Rodgers opted to bring on Nathaniel Phillips for Luis Palma and match Atletico's 3-5-2 formation.
The move meant Celtic lost the ability to create overloads on the flanks, while Kyogo and Maeda became isolated up front as the hosts struggled to play through Atletico’s press.
It turned out to be a negative move that only invited Atletico pressure - and Simeone’s side may well have made Rodgers pay were it not for De Paul’s foolish dismissal reining in their attacking intentions.
November 7: Atletico Madrid (A) - kick-off 8pm
November 28: Lazio (A) - kick-off 5.45pm
December 13: Feyenoord (H) - kick-off 8pm
Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action on Saturday at Hibernian - kick-off 3pm. Brendan Rodgers' side then host St Mirren on Wednesday - kick-off 7.45pm.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid host Alaves in LaLiga on Sunday; kick-off 8pm.
