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Nice 1-1 Celtic: Patryk Klimala goal earns draw for Scottish champions

Patryk Klimala (right) celebrates his goal against Nice with Olivier Ntcham
Image: Patryk Klimala (right) celebrates his goal with Olivier Ntcham

Patryk Klimala grabbed his first goal in Celtic colours as Neil Lennon's 10-in-a-row hopefuls earned a 1-1 draw with Nice in Lyon.

The Hoops re-emerged from their 131-day long coronavirus lockdown for the Veolia Trophy opener but there was little sign of ring rust as they quickly found their groove at the Groupama Stadium.

Odsonne Edouard thought he had grabbed an early opener on his return to France but was denied by a strange VAR offside call.

There was more disappointment for the Parkhead side as Kasper Dolberg struck against the run of play just before half-time.

But Polish substitute Klimala found the net for the first time since sealing a £3.5m switch from Jagiellonia back in January to seal a draw.

Patryk Klimala robs Nice goalkeeper Teddy Boulhendi (left) to score a goal
Image: Klimala robbed Nice goalkeeper Teddy Boulhendi

Nice finished fifth in last season's Ligue 1 and the result will give Lennon encouragement ahead of his team's attempt to seal a record-breaking 10th straight league title this term.

The Hoops took a knee along with their French opponents in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before kick-off but were quickly on the front foot as they swarmed over Nice.

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And it appeared Lennon's team had grabbed a deserved opener just four minutes in when Edouard rounded 'keeper Walter Benitez to slot home.

Odsonne Edouard scores against Nice but it's ruled out by VAR
Image: Odsonne Edouard had a goal ruled out by VAR

However, the France U21 ace was denied a homecoming strike by a bizarre offside decision as the television officials failed to spot that the ball had been played through to the former PSG man by Nice's Jean-Victor Makengo.

Scott Bain - the only senior keeper at Lennon's disposal following the departures of Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon - made a strong case for his inclusion this term with a brilliant one-handed save to deny Dolberg heading home from a corner.

Celtic continued to dominate but were made to regret a string of missed chances six minutes before the break.

Christopher Jullien gets to the ball ahead of Nice's Amine Gouiri
Image: Christopher Jullien gets to the ball ahead of Amine Gouiri

Dolberg was allowed to waltz in from the left and past a feeble Christopher Jullien challenge before two more half-hearted tackles from James Forrest and Kris Ajer left the former Ajax hitman to clip past Bain.

Ryan Christie wasted another golden chance just moments into the second period as he raced through on goal before fluffing his finish.

Both teams then made sweeping changes on the hour mark, with an entirely new Celtic line-up replacing the full-strength starting XI Lennon had fielded.

But Nice's teenage goalkeeping understudy Teddy Boulhendi was caught cold after 73 minutes when he gifted possession to Klimala, who gleefully stroked home the equaliser into the empty net.

Celtic return to action on Saturday when they face the hosts Lyon.

Follow the Scottish Premiership with Sky Sports

Scottish Premiership games live on Sky Sports in August
Image: Scottish Premiership games live on Sky Sports in August

Sky Sports, the new home of Scottish football, will show every club in the Scottish Premiership live in the opening month of the new 2020/21 season.

The new season kicks off on Saturday August 1, with Steven Gerrard's Rangers up against Aberdeen in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Champions Celtic will host Hamilton live on Sky on Sunday August 2, with Motherwell's trip to Ross County also selected from the opening weekend.

Sky Sports will be the only broadcaster to offer live coverage of the Scottish Premiership, with up 48 games available over the campaign.

Confirmed Scottish Premiership games live on Sky Sports

Sat Aug 1: Aberdeen vs Rangers - 5.30pm

Sun Aug 2: Celtic vs Hamilton - 4.30pm

Mon Aug 3: Ross County vs Motherwell - 7.45pm

Sat Aug 8: St Johnstone vs Aberdeen - 12.30pm

Sun Aug 9: Kilmarnock vs Celtic - 4.30pm

Tue Aug 11: Dundee Utd vs Hibernian - 6pm

Wed Aug 12: St Mirren vs Celtic - 6pm

Sat Aug 15: Hibernian vs Motherwell - 5.30pm

Sun Aug 16: Livingston vs Rangers - 4.30pm

Sat Aug 22: Dundee Utd vs Celtic - 5.30pm

Sun Aug 23: St Johnstone vs Hibernian - 4.30pm

Sat Aug 29: Hamilton v Rangers - 5.30pm

Sun Aug 30: Hibernian vs Aberdeen - 4.30pm

Swans to Glide into play-off spot?
Swans to Glide into play-off spot?

Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 for a sixth time this season on Saturday. Play for free, entries by 3pm.

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