Celtic's hopes of making an impact in the Europa League slipped away after a second-half collapse against Celta Vigo, leaving the Scottish champions pointless in the league phase and facing an early exit.
Martin O'Neill's men fell to a 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park, with Javi Rodriguez scoring twice in three-and-a-half minutes to cancel out Mika Baur's opener. Celtic now have zero points after three games and are on a run of four successive European defeats and five in their last seven matches in all competitions.
World Media Reacts to Celtic's Defeat
Record Sport has gathered reaction from across the globe, with Spanish outlet La Voz del Galicia praising Celta's comeback: "A stunning comeback from Celta in Scotland. Claudio Giráldez's side outplayed Celtic, overcoming Baur's early goal to secure their first three points of the season in Europe. Javi Rodríguez, with two goals in just five minutes, emerged as the hero for Celta on a memorable European night."
French newspaper L'Equipe highlighted Celtic's ongoing struggles: "Celtic has yet to earn a single point after their latest home defeat against Celta Vigo. The Scottish side had taken the lead through a Mika Baur volley, but crumbled within three minutes, conceding two goals to defender Javier Rodriguez, including a superb strike. Celtic's struggles, already compounded by defeats to Ferencvaros and Benfica, highlight the difficulties facing Scottish football, whose only other European representative, Hearts, has managed just one point in the Europa League."
Spanish Media Praise Rodriguez's Heroics
Faro de Vigo focused on the traveling support: "Celta achieved what they intended: to open their account in the Europa League, regain momentum to overcome the group stage and reward the effort of the 3,000 fans who traveled to Celtic Park. Everything stems from the same root, because the protagonist of the victory also had a Celtic heart: a Javis Rodriguez in top form. To the goal and assist that secured Sunday's win over Alavés, he added a historic brace."
Marca noted: "Javi Rodríguez capped off a fantastic week by scoring both goals in Celta's 2-1 comeback victory against Celtic, securing their first three points in the Europa League. Following his goal and assist against Alavés, the center-back, whose name sounds like an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, found the back of the net twice against Celtic."
O'Neill Under Fire
CBS Sports Golazo pundit Ian Paul Joy criticised the squad's construction: "I feel for Martin O'Neill, because I don't think the squad is built for success. Scottish teams have played 29 European matches this season, and Scottish teams have had 14 defeats from those matches, and only seven victories. I know they had a chance to get something from this game, but this squad was not built for European success. This squad was built for domestic success. They are the best team in Scottish football, alongside Rangers - who are on the rise again - but this has taught us a big lesson. Whoever is bringing these players to the football club clearly doesn't have European experience or analytics to put the squad together. They are conceding far too many goals right now. I just think Martin O'Neill has been put in a very difficult position. Celtic's history is winning the European Cup. Celtic's history is getting to European finals... Where's that pride gone from Celtic Football Club?"
AS described the match: "Everything changed after the break. The Scots took the lead in the second minute, capitalising on a run down the right by Hassan, who laid the ball back for Baur, who, without a particularly impressive shot, slotted it into the net. Celtic Park roared, despite the strike by their radical supporters, the Green Brigade, who were angry with the club's owner, Dermot Desmond. It was an unexpected blow, a knockout punch that left Celta reeling for quite some time. Nygren nearly doubled the lead with a left-footed shot that Radu saved, and Scales then rattled the crossbar with a header. Celta looked completely out of sorts."
Mundo Deportivo added: "Celta Vigo staged a stunning 2-1 victory over Celtic Park on Thursday, with Javi Rodríguez the clear star of the show. His second-half brace secured a remarkable comeback for the Sky Blues. Claudio Giráldez's men rallied from the brink of defeat, and thanks to the Galician center-back's two goals in just three minutes, they snatched a valuable win against a resilient Celtic side. This victory earned them their first points in this Europa League campaign and demonstrated that they still have a lot to offer in this continental adventure."
El Imparcial observed: "Celtic had taken the lead early in the second half through a goal by German midfielder Mika Baur. Celta were virtually ineffective in attack until they were struck by the Scottish side. They relied too heavily on horizontal passing and lacked penetration against an opponent who, perhaps aware of their inferiority, didn't hesitate to sit deep in their own half."
Qualification for the knockout stages is now an uphill task for Celtic, with fans wondering where a win might come from following Rodriguez's double that rendered Baur's opener meaningless.
