Celtic suffered more Europa League pain as Spanish side Celta Vigo came from behind to win 2-1 at Parkhead. After defeats by Ferencvaros and Benfica in their first two league phase fixtures, Martin O’Neill’s side struggled to impose themselves on the visitors who were neat and tidy without really testing Hoops keeper Sam Johnstone.
Germany midfielder Mika Baur fired the home side in front just over a minute into the second half to thrill the Celtic fans but Spain defender Javi Rodríguez scored twice in three minutes – a header then an unstoppable drive – to stun the home side who could not find a way back.
It was another damaging Euro night for the Scottish champions, knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by LASK on a 5-4 aggregate after being 4-0 up at one stage earlier in the season.
Celtic’s ultras group, the Green Brigade, boycotted the game in protest at the running of the club, albeit there appeared to be only a couple of hundred empty seats, while 3,000 raucous Celta Vigo fans helped the noise.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored on his first start since the opening day but Crystal Palace could not capitalise on a Besiktas red card to produce a winner in their 2-2 Europa League draw in Istanbul.
Palace were looking to bounce back from Sunday’s humiliating 5-0 defeat at Brighton, and were the superior side before Wilfred Ndidi opened the scoring for the hosts in first-half stoppage time.
Yéremy Pino drew the sides level six minutes after the restart and Mateta – who had a first-half goal chalked off by the video assistant referee– fired Palace to a first-time lead four minutes later.
Junior Olaitan netted a 73rd-minute equaliser, and Palace could not find a winner after Umit Akdag was sent off for a clumsy 77th-minute challenge on Jørgen Strand Larsen, who was subsequently forced off.
Sunderland’s winning start in the Europa League was ended with a 1-1 draw away to Lech Poznan. The point keeps Sunderland unbeaten in Europe this season but ends their winning start, which saw them claim back-to-back victories over AZ Alkmaar and Torreense.
A thrilling opening saw Sunderland go in front early through Timur Tutierov, who was making just his third competitive start since arriving at Sunderland’s academy in 2023.
The visitors had opportunities to extend their lead when Malick Fofana hit the post and Nordi Mukiele forced a strong save from Mateusz Lis, but Lech responded in the 70th minute through the substitute Leo Bengtsson’s low strike.
Régis Le Bris made six changes from Sunday’s Premier League defeat to Bournemouth, including a first start of the season for Habib Diarra following his return from injury.
Sunderland took the lead in the second minute when Nilson Angulo pounced on a tame pass from Lis, and the winger crossed into Tutierov in the middle of the box to comfortably nod home for his first Sunderland goal.
Robin Roefs was called into action at the opposite end with a double save to deny Patrik Wålemark and palm away Antoni Kozubal’s header before Diarra charged up the pitch and fired into the side netting.
The hosts had two good chances to level when Pablo Rodríguez blasted just past the post and Daniel Håkans was played through in a one-on-one with Roefs but flicked his shot wide.
Sunderland enjoyed a good spell of possession which saw the skipper, Granit Xhaka, have a strike parried away by Lis and the rebound fell to Fofana, who rattled the woodwork. Moments later Dayann Méthalie was denied at the near post by Lis as the visitors pushed for a second goal.
Early in the second half, Fofana cut into the box but could only send his effort over and Poznan looked to strike when Wålemark scuffed a shot wide following a good solo run.
Diarra fired wide for and Angulo’s low strike was scooped up by Lis, who moments later made a great save to tip Mukiele’s shot over the bar.
Bengtsson looked to make an instant impact from the bench when his effort from Wålemark’s cross was sent wide. However, the midfielder made no mistake when next presented with an opportunity as a corner rebounded towards him just inside the area and he fired into the bottom corner with 20 minutes to play.
Poznan almost took the lead moments later when Roefs made a brilliant point-blank stop from Michal Gurgul. Fofana skewed an effort wide as Sunderland looked to restore their advantage and the substitute Chris Rigg’s powerful shot landed on the roof of the net, but the spoils were shared.
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Conference League: Salah breaks Hearts and Brighton held by Jablonec
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Injury-hit Hearts produced a spirited display in Turkey but ultimately went down to a 2-0 Conference League defeat at the hands of Mohamed Salah-inspired Trabzonspor.
The Scottish side acquitted themselves well amid a hostile atmosphere before going down to Salah’s first-half penalty and a second-half strike from Franculino, laid on by the former Liverpool star (pictured).
The defeat leaves Wouter Vrancken’s side with one point from two matches ahead of their trip to Swiss champions Thun in a fortnight. Their visit had started in painful fashion after left-back Harry Milne suffered a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury during training.
Brighton drew a rare blank as they were held to a goalless draw by Czech minnows Jablonec. The Premier League’s top scorers, who have scored 23 goals across their first seven matches, misfired badly in the foothills of the Jizera Mountains in northern Czechia.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler, in his 100th match in charge, made eight changes from that memorable win with only Bart Verbruggen, Olivier Boscagli and Pascal Gross keeping their places. The visitors squandered a host of chances, the best falling to Jack Hinshelwood, Georginio Rutter and Ibrahim Osman, and Jablonec were looking the likelier to score towards the end.
Antonín Rusek almost capitalised on a mistake by Joao Costinha before Verbruggen had to make a spectacular fingertip save to prevent Jiri Slama’s drive from hitting the top corner. Press Association
Juventus dropped their first points of the Europa League campaign after coming from behind to draw 2-2 with visitors Rennes.
Zeki Celik gave Juventus a fifth-minute lead, but the French side kept their composure and were level 10 minutes later when the Jordan international Musa Al-Taamari finished from close range for his first goal in the competition.
Rennes then stunned the hosts with a Boulaye Dia penalty two minutes before the break as the Italians struggled to create chances until Nick Woltemade equalised from the spot in the 67th minute.
The Germany forward twice went close to scoring again as Luciano Spalletti’s team upped the pressure, and Juve thought they had won it in the 88th minute when Jhon Lucumí found the net from close range, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The draw at least spared Juventus a second successive defeat following Sunday’s 3-0 home loss to Lazio in Serie A.
Jonas Hofmann made the most of his surprise start for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring twice in three minutes to give the Bundesliga side a 2-0 victory at OFI Crete to go top of the table with their third straight win.
Crete, who stunned Hoffenheim 2-0 in their opening league-phase match, were twice caught napping by Hofmann, who was added to the side following an injury to Martin Terrier. Leverkusen have nine points and lead Ferencvaros on goal difference after the Hungarian side beat Torreense 4-1.
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