- Atletico Madrid overcame two setbacks to draw 2-2 against Celtic.
- The Spanish team played the final few minutes of the match with just 10 men.
- Kyogo Furuhashi gave Celtic a strong start, with his second goal in the last two Champions League games.
In an exciting Champions League Group E match on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid overcame two setbacks to draw 2-2 against Celtic. The Spanish team played the final few minutes of the match with just 10 men.
With his second goal in the last two Champions League games, Kyogo Furuhashi gave Celtic a strong start. Luis Palma then promptly doubled Celtic’s advantage after Antoine Griezmann scored after his own saved penalty.
Kyogo Furuhashi. Photo/STV News
After a lively and determined first half, Celtic looked well on their way to winning their first Champions League group-stage match at home in ten years. However, they got off to a poor start in the second half, and Alvaro Morata leveled the score within eight minutes of the restart.
Even when Atletico was reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute, the Scottish champions failed to find their winning formula, and they have now gone 12 games without a home victory at this level.
Before the game, thousands of Celtic supporters disregarded the team by flying Palestinian flags, an action that would surely result in UEFA punishment.
With a single touch, Furuhashi ignited the intense atmosphere in less than four minutes. After passing to Matt O’Riley twice, the Japan international took a touch and finished from six yards out.
There was a blow for Brendan Rodgers shortly later as Reo Hatate walked out hurt. Paulo Bernardo, a 21-year-old midfielder on loan from Benfica, was brought on by the Celtic boss. Bernardo has not yet started a game.
The audience cheered the home team on as they pushed Atletico far up the pitch, but Greg Taylor’s trip on Nahuel Molina in the 25th minute gave the visitors the equalizer.
Griezmann‘s penalty was well saved by Joe Hart, but the France international scored on the rebound.
Alvaro Morata celebrating his goal. Photo/The Independent
Three minutes later, Taylor made amends when he put Daizen Maeda in behind right-back Molina with a searching ball play. Following the cross, another winger, Palma, was discovered, and the Honduran took a touch before firing a shot off the post.
Three weeks prior, a close VAR call against Palma had prevented a late goal against Lazio, and shortly after, Axel Witsel’s header from a close range gave Celtic the advantage.
Prior to this, O’Riley had threatened with a first-time strike, but Celtic resisted with vigor as a diving stop kept them at bay.
After introducing Marcos Llorente, Diego Simeone made two halftime substitutions. Within eight minutes, Llorente’s cross allowed Morata to equalize with a diving header.
Rodgers changed formation and substituted center-back Nat Phillips for Palma in response to threats from Morata and Llorente.
Celtic’s poor passing was making things worse for them as Atletico maintained control of the ball. Morata attempted a Cameron Carter-Vickers maneuver, but Hart made a nice stop.
Before midfielder Rodrigo de Paul was given a second yellow card for a possible foul during a challenge with Paulo Bernardo, the visitors controlled the final minutes and wasted many opportunities to take the lead, but the Spanish team managed to hold on for the draw.
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