Celtic’s hopes of Champions League promotion have been dashed after they were punished for their rudeness in a disappointing home defeat by RB Leipzig.
Mat O’Riley and Greg Taylor hit the woodwork in quick succession and Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi also missed great chances for the opener.
Leipzig showed what Celtic lacked with late goals from Timo Werner and substitute Emil Forsberg.
It left the Scottish champions bottom with a point from four games.
But while they are now ahead of Celtic in the top two, their hopes of saving a Europa League spot were boosted by Real Madrid’s late equalizer at Shakhtar Donetsk, who are now four points ahead of third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk with a fortnight to go. Will visit Glasgow.
Celtic’s group-stage failings were encapsulated in a dizzying sequence midway through the first half. O’Riley rattled the base of a post with a 20-yard strike and Taylor pounced on the loose ball only to scuff it on to the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Seconds later, Kyogo grazed the woodwork with a gilt-edged header from Sead Haksabanovic’s delivery.
Maeda had set the tone of frustration in the opening seconds, scooping an awkward header inches over, and wasteful finishing is ultimately what has condemned Celtic to an exit with two games to spare.
