After the collapse of Feyenoord, Celtic set TWO unwelcome Champions League records.

It’s a double whammy for the Hoops after kicking off their Group E campaign with a 2-0 defeat in Rotterdam

Celtic set not one but TWO unwanted Champions League records after their second-half implosion in Rotterdam.

The Hoops crashed to an opening day 2-0 defeat against Feyenoord to leave them bottom of Group E, with Lazio snatching a late draw at home to Atletico Madrid. The result means that the Parkhead side have now lost 58.9 per cent of their Champions League games – the highest ratio of any side with at least 50 games in the competition – having suffered defeat in 43 of their 73 fixtures (BBC).

It has also been revealed that the Glasgow giants have conceded more away goals (2.4) than any other side to have played 30 times on the road in the tournament (BBC). Celts have shipped a staggering 89 goals in their last 37 Champions League away games – keeping just one clean sheet. That came in a rare 3-0 win in Belgium against Anderlecht back in 2017.

The statistical double whammy caps off a frustrating start to Celtic’s 2023/24 European campaign after an encouraging first 45 minutes at De Kuip. Brendan Rodgers’ side were on course to reach the break goalless before Calvin Stengs’ broke the deadlock with a free-kick moments before half-time.

Celtic were then reduced to NINE men after Champions League debutants Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm were sent off. Swedish defender Lagerbielke was shown a second yellow after conceding a penalty for a soft tug on Igor Paixao, before Joe Hart handed the visitors a lifeline by saving the Brazilian’s resulting spot-kick.

 

But the Scottish Treble-winners’ hopes of grabbing an equaliser were dashed when Holm was shown a straight red for a reckless tackle. Alireza Jahanbakhsh eventually put the game out of sight with a thunderous finish 12 minutes from time, and it could have been more had the hosts not had two goals ruled out for offside.

Next up for Celtic is Lazio at Parkhead on Tuesday October 4, where the Hoops will look to record their first home win in the group stage in a decade. Celts haven’t picked up three points in Glasgow since beating Ajax 2-1 back in October 2013.