2020-11-26: Sparta Prague 4-1 Celtic, Europa League

Match Pictures | Matches: 2020 – 2021

Trivia

UEFA Cup / Europa League Group H Game – Game 4; Kick-off 6pm
Celtic smashed 8-2 on aggregate over two games Although this is a group game, and out of Europe already.
Two wins now in nine games. Another game in which Lennon had to win to save his job, and so on.
Neill Lennon fully under the cosh, and the squad looks like they have given up in everything.
Neil Lennon believes he can turn things round domestically for Celtic. He cites a possible “psychological” issue among the squad as being the main reason for the poor run of late. Few convinced he’s the man for the job.
Defensive frailties is the main problem and defence has been a disaster.
Day before: Green Brigade group unveil a banner outside Celtic Park calling for Lennon to step down as manager.
Ex-Celt Darnell Fisher was charged after an FA probe for grabbing Scotland international Callum Paterson’s penis. Not once, but twice during Preston North End’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday when the pair were waiting for a corner to be delivered.
Jack Hendry away on loan: “Tower of experience,” Oostende boss on Jack Hendry – “He’s one of the best defenders in the league”. Makes us all feel worse.
Reports: Celtic ready to open talks with Milan over permanent move for Diego Laxalt. Celtic keen to extend his stay beyond this season.
Man U boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ruled out January loan move for goalkeeper Dean Henderson to Celtic.
Argentina: Diego Maradona has died aged 60; arguably the greatest footballer who ever lived. RIP.
Rugby: French legend (esp from RWC 99) Christophe Dominici died at 48. RIP
Covid:
- In England, fans will be allowed into stadiums from December 2, with upto 4,000 watching in Tier 1 areas and 2,000 in Tier 2 areas – but venues in Tier 3 will stay closed

Summary

Neil Lennon (before the match):

” ‘I’ve reconciled myself to the fact I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea…’”

“We know we are in for a title challenge and we’ll embrace it. It’s new for some of the players, section of fans but it’s not new for me. I’ve been in many title races and challenges before and I know how to win them.”

“We have to win tomorrow to stand any chance of qualifying. That’s our sole focus now. The reverse game here was as disappointing as we’ve been for a while and it’s important we motivate ourselves to correct that.”

“Since I’ve been back, we’ve won four trophies in a row, the team’s won 11 in a row. We’ve got a chance of winning 12. We are going through a sticky patch, all teams do and good teams and managers come through that and that’s what I firmly believe we‘ll do.”

“You have to put a sense of perspective. We’ve made a better start to the league than we did two years ago and went on to win the treble. We’ve lost one domestic game this calendar year.”

Lennon(post-match):

“We didn’t deserve to lose the game 4-1. Things aren’t going for us at the moment.”

Tom English: “Fans have lost faith in slapstick Celtic and the case against Neil Lennon grows weightier by the week”

Sutton: Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton changed his tune on the future of Parkhead boss Neil Lennon. Not long after criticising the fans who displayed a banner outside the ground asking for the manager to leave he was tweeting that it was “hard for Neil Lennon to see this out” after the 4-1 loss to Sparta Prague. (Twitter)

Sutton on BT Sport (Twittter): “It can’t get much worse for Celtic at this time.This season so far you have to say has been a disaster.”

Twitter:

A nice goal for Eddie last night but he still looks like a man who’d rather be elswhere. Whatever happens this season the squad needs an overhaul in the summer, more hungry players are required and guys who want to give their all in every game.

Ryan:

he worst bit about this current disaster is not even being able to experience it with your pals, whether it’s going to Parkhead or coming back on the bus from an away, no defiant sing song, no venting, nothing. Watching this pish unfold week after week in your living room

Enathetndanthector:

Any decent team is coached. I thought we had bought into that with Deila appointment then decided we needed a top level coach. I never dreamt we would go back to the old boys’ network to resurrect ‘manager/motivator’ concept.

TCW:

Neil Lennon is a symptom of, rather than the cause, of Celtic’s issues.

He accepted a job he shouldn’t have been offered. Wouldn’t we all?

A change of manager is needed. But real progress will only come when we rid the boardroom of the complacency which currently occupies it.

(GES of KDS)
We all called it during the match, that wasn’t ending at only 2-1, they set up to bring us further up the park and get players out of position before sealing a win and then embarrassing us further. How can we all see it but our untouchable manager can’t? Did he tell the team to be careful or did he tell them too much?

Another team with a fraction of the budget and resources but a team with 100% more organisation, a game plan and tactical nouse. The players, the management team and the board should all be hanging their heads after that.

We’ve been saying this for weeks – we need change and we need it now or this season is going to go south very very quickly.

John Barnes and Tony Mowbray’s records over their last 9 games was much better than the 2 wins in 9 we’ve amassed recently.

Teams

Celtic:

29Bain

44Elhamed

2Jullien

35Ajer

93Laxalt

8Brown

Substituted forRogicat 66’minutes

42McGregor

17Christie

21Ntcham

27Elyounoussi

22Edouard

Substituted forKlimalaat 82’minutes

Substitutes

1Barkas

3Taylor

4Duffy

6Bitton

10Ajeti

11Klimala

18Rogic

30Frimpong

52Henderson

65Hazard

Goals: Edouard (15′ minutes)

Assists: Elyounoussi (15′ minutes)

Sparta Prague

Nita

5Plechaty

8Pavelka

33Hancko

Substituted forSoucekat 67’minutesBooked at 89mins

32Aalen VindheimBooked at 29mins

25Travnik

Substituted forKrejciat 76’minutes

10Dockal

37KrejciBooked at 57mins

15Hanousek

39Julis

Substituted forYankov Minchevat 86’minutes

7Moberg Karlsson

Substituted forPlavsicat 86’minutes

Substitutes

6Soucek

9Krejci

11Yankov Minchev

13Lischka

22Plavsic

28Wiesner

29Heca

41Vitík

43Gabriel

51Gelashvili

52Patrak

77Holec

Goals:

Hancko (26′ minutes), Julis (38′ minutes, 80′ minutes), Plavsic (90’+4 minutes)

Assists:

Pavelka (26′ minutes), Dockal (38′ minutes, 90’+4 minutes), Moberg Karlsson (80′ minutes)

Ref: Tobias Stieler

Att: None

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Home Team

Sparta Prague

Away Team

Celtic

Possession

Home48%

Away52%

Shots

Home13

Away8

Shots on Target

Home7

Away4

Corners

Home5

Away6

Fouls

Home14

Away5

Articles

Celtic soft and shapeless as repeat Sparta Prague horror show pushes Neil Lennon deeper down a hole

The pleas in mitigation for, and from Neil Lennon, can only wear ever thinner following a truly miserable end of their Europa League qualification hopes in Prague.

By Andrew Smith

Thursday, 26th November 2020, 9:08 pm

Updated

11 hours ago

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-soft-and-shapeless-repeat-sparta-prague-horror-show-pushes-neil-lennon-deeper-down-hole-3049443

Whatever the Czech is for ‘can we play you every week’, it could have been belted out from the home dressing room at the conclusion of their second 4-1 filleting of the Scottish champions in three weeks.

Sparta Prague are a team that had conceded seven goals in their previous two games, and have now only beaten Celtic in their past five outings. At the minute, though, any opponent looks capable of skewering Lennon’s side. It can be no other way when they are as shapeless as a squiggle and as soft as a blancmange. The consequence of having won only two of their past nine games and shipping an eye-watering 20 goals in the process. Such bloodletting can only drain the life from Lennon’s 21-month second tenure. Frankly, it feels like the Celtic manager is being covered in ever-more leeches with every successive performance.

Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports

Even in taking a 14th minute lead in Prague, and pinning the home team back for most of the second period in facing a 2-1 deficit following a first half collapse, Celtic still contrived to be utterly second best. They cannot do right for wrong, and their wrongs are monumental, a third loss in four Group H encounters also their first away defeat in the calendar year of 2020.

The growing fraternity among the Celtic support demanding the removal of Lennon – which will have been swelled considerably by the latest on-field debacle – have sought to claim his two decades’ service for the club shouldn’t be a mitigating factor when even ultimate playing figurehead Billy McNeill could be jettisoned from the club’s management position.

It is a ridiculous parallel in light of the fact the Lisbon Lions captain endured two years of desperate results rather than two months dragging the Northern Irishman into an ever-deepening hole.

Yet, one uncomfortable similarity was brought to mind by the shambolic defending that allowed Sparta to claim, incredibly, their second four-goal haul against the Scottish champions. As McNeill proved unable to come up with the answers to poor results while he chopped and changed his personnel, he memorably quipped: “I kept shuffling the pack but I couldn’t find any aces”.

It feels as if Lennon is being confounded in such terms. The return of centre-back Christopher Jullien in Prague following a back problem that had sidelined him for 10 weeks and 14 games was supposed to stiffen up a defence that has been a sieve. Likewise, with Hatem Abd Elhamed replacing Jeremie Frimpong at right-back. The two goals conceded in that first half, though, were as egregious as any gifted to opponents in an horrendous nine-game sequence that has turned the club upside down and in on itself.

In fairness to Jullien, it was his strong header out of the box that paved the way for Mohamed Elyounoussi to feed Odsonne Edouard for the opener.

Following the dazzling 14th minute finish from the striker who was another returning performer – which resulted from him twisting David Hancko one way then the other down the left of the penalty area before lashing the ball in off the far post – Jullien’s night, and that of his team turned disastrous.

The Sparta equaliser was the product of hideous defending from corner. It was the fifth goal Celtic have coughed up from such a dead ball this season, and the eighth from a set-piece in total. An attempt by Jullien to head it clear was insipid and led to it dropping at the edge of the box where Scott Brown was beaten in a challenge by David Pavelka. His prod through found Callum McGregor playing on three Sparta players that had no green jerseys in their vicinity, Hancko turning the ball in from close range.

Their second goal in the 39th minute was even more darkly comical in some respects, a simple low angled ball from deep on the left was missed by both Krisoffer Ajer and Jullien. The French defender seemed unaware that Lukas Julius – Celtic’s destroyer last time with a hat-trick at Parkhead – was darting in behind him. And despite throwing himself to block at the near post, the striker was able to force the ball over the line in straightforward fashion.

Celtic regrouped following a period that ended with a free header passed up by Ladislav Krejci, who thumped against the upright from only four yards. However, their territorial dominance yielded few clear-cut opportunities, apart from the otherwise bright Edouard missing a pinch. Instead, it was their vulnerabilities that came back to haunt them when Elhamed got in on the hapless act by falling to deal with a run from David Mollberg-Karlsson, thereby allowing him to whip over a ball from the right that Julius – who else? – first-timed past Scott Bain. The 92nd minute fourth was merely further salts being poured into the Celtic wounds, Srđan Plavšić breaking clear down the middle and rounding the Celtic keeper after he had raced to the edge of his area before slotting in.

Sparta Prague: Nita, Plechaty, Pavelka, Hancko, Vindheim, Travnik (Krejci 76), Dockal, Krejci, Hanousek (Soucek 66), Julis (Minchev 86), Moberg-Karlsson. Subs: Heca, Soucek, Lischka, Plavsic, Wiesner, Vitik, Gabriel, Gelashvili, Patrak.

Celtic: Bain; Elhamed, Ajer, Jullien, Laxalt; Brown (Rogic 66), McGregor, Christie, Ntcham, Elyounoussi, Edouard (Klimala 82). Subs: Barkas, Taylor, Duffy, Bitton, Ajeti, Frimpong, Henderson.

BBC

By Andy CampbellBBC Sport Scotland

Last updated on

3 hours ago3 hours ago.From the section European Football

Sparta Prague v Celtic

Lukas Julis put Sparta Prague in front before half-time and scored five across the two games

Celtic are out of the Europa League with two games to spare after a second successive 4-1 defeat by Sparta Prague heaped more pressure on Neil Lennon.

Odsonne Edouard marked his return to the XI with a stylish opener, but David Hancko exposed poor defending to level.

Lukas Julis added two to his hat-trick in Sparta’s Glasgow win and substitute Srdan Plavsic added a late fourth.

Celtic have now taken one point from their four group games after a fourth loss in nine games in all competitions.

Lennon’s side – who have won just twice in those nine matches – can now only reach a tally of seven points; a mark which is guaranteed to be beaten by at least two of Lille, AC Milan or Sparta.

Lennon says Celtic problems ‘psychological’

Podcast: ‘This looks like the crumbling of an empire’

Trailing Rangers by 11 points in the Scottish Premiership – albeit with two games in hand – Celtic needed to get back to winning ways to get into some sort of contention in Group H.

The early omens were not good as David Moberg Karlsson flashed wide with a long-range shot that looked like it had the beating of goalkeeper Scott Bain.

Things started looking up for Celtic when Edouard received Callum McGregor’s pass, slalomed one way then the other as he advanced towards goal then converted past Florin Nita.

Table

But the Czech side soon levelled from a corner. Scott Brown did not clear his lines, allowing David Pavelka to get away a mis-hit shot, and Hancko buried the ball as he and two others were being played onside by McGregor.

And the Prague side moved into the lead when Borek Dockal’s low cross from the right eliminated all four Celtic defenders and Julis forced in at the back post, though the striker did appear to be offside.

Sparta could, and probably should, have added to their lead when Dockal’s free-kick was headed on to a post by Ladislav Krejci just before the interval.

An Edouard free-kick early in the second period was touched wide by Nita and Ryan Christie then curled an effort wide for Celtic.

Edouard should have levelled when found by Olivier Ntcham but his tame shot was collected by the keeper.

Tom Rogic, so often a scorer of vital Celtic goals, was sent on in place of Brown for the final 24 minutes but the Australian could not spark a revival, with Julis soon putting the game to bed.

Hatem Elhamed’s defensive header was poor and he then missed an interception as Karlsson sped away on the left to cross for Julis to volley past Bain.

And Celtic were found wanting at the back again as Plavsic raced on to another Dockal pass, rounded Bain and finished past McGregor on the goal line.

Man of the match – Lukas Julis

David Moberg Karlsson and Lukas Julis

Julis (right) was Celtic’s tormentor in chief once again after his hat-trick in Glasgow

What did we learn?

Celtic restored Elhamed and Christopher Jullien to the right side of their much maligned defence to compliment Kristoffer Ajer and Diego Laxalt.

And the new back four struggled from open play and at set pieces, Sparta taking advantage as they had done when they won 4-1 in Glasgow.

In James Forrest’s continued absence, the Celtic attack lacks pace and a goal threat from the right.

Positively for the Scottish champions, Edouard looked much more like the striker that started the season with a hat-trick against Hamilton back in August.

Celtic’s problems ‘psychological’ – Lennon

Match stats

Since it was rebranded in 2009-10, Celtic have won just two of their 24 away games in the Europa League (D11 L11).

Celtic are yet to win in the Europa League this season (D1 L3), with their winless run in the competition (excluding qualifiers) standing at seven matches (D2 L5).

Julis has scored five goals in his last two Europa League games – two more than he netted in his first 19 matches in the competition.

Edouard has been directly involved in six goals in his last eight Europa League games (four goals, two assists).

The Frenchman has scored in two of his past three away Europa League appearances.

What’s next?

Celtic begin their defence of the Scottish League Cup at home to Ross County on Sunday (14:00 GMT) and take on Milan in Italy in the penultimate round of Europa League group fixtures next Thursday (17:55).

Match ends, Sparta Prague 4, Celtic 1.

90’+4′

Full Time

Second Half ends, Sparta Prague 4, Celtic 1.

90’+4′

Goal!

Goal! Sparta Prague 4, Celtic 1. Srdan Plavsic (Sparta Prague) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Borek Dockal following a fast break.

90’+3′

Post update

Hatem Elhamed (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90’+3′

Post update

Foul by Ladislav Krejci I (Sparta Prague).

90’+2′

Post update

Foul by Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague).

90’+2′

Post update

Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

89′

Booking

Filip Soucek (Sparta Prague) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

89′

Post update

Foul by Filip Soucek (Sparta Prague).

89′

Post update

Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

87′

Post update

Foul by Martin Yankov Minchev (Sparta Prague).

87′

Post update

Hatem Elhamed (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86′

Post update

Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).

86′

Post update

Andreas Aalen Vindheim (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick on the right wing.

86′

Substitution

Substitution, Sparta Prague. Srdan Plavsic replaces David Moberg Karlsson.

86′

Substitution

Substitution, Sparta Prague. Martin Yankov Minchev replaces Lukas Julis.

85′

Post update

Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).

85′

Post update

Borek Dockal (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

82′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Patryk Klimala replaces Odsonne Edouard.

81′

Post update

Corner, Sparta Prague. Conceded by Olivier Ntcham.

80′

Goal!

Goal! Sparta Prague 3, Celtic 1. Lukas Julis (Sparta Prague) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Moberg Karlsson following a fast break.

79′

Post update

Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.

79′

Post update

Foul by Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague).

76′

Substitution

Substitution, Sparta Prague. Ladislav Krejci I replaces Michal Travnik.

76′

Post update

Offside, Celtic. Hatem Elhamed tries a through ball, but Ryan Christie is caught offside.

75′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Matej Hanousek.

72′

Post update

Foul by Michal Travnik (Sparta Prague).

72′

Post update

Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

72′

Post update

Offside, Sparta Prague. Florin Constantin Nita tries a through ball, but Lukas Julis is caught offside.

70′

Post update

Attempt missed. David Moberg Karlsson (Sparta Prague) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Michal Travnik.

68′

Post update

Attempt missed. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a corner.

68′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Borek Dockal.

68′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.

67′

Substitution

Substitution, Sparta Prague. Filip Soucek replaces David Hancko because of an injury.

66′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Scott Brown.

64′

Post update

Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Olivier Ntcham.

61′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Borek Dockal (Sparta Prague) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

57′

Booking

Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

57′

Post update

Foul by Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague).

57′

Post update

Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

56′

Post update

Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

56′

Post update

Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).

52′

Post update

Foul by Dominik Plechaty (Sparta Prague).

52′

Post update

Diego Laxalt (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

52′

Post update

Foul by Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague).

52′

Post update

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

51′

Post update

Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.

50′

Post update

Attempt saved. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.

49′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Hancko.

48′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Florin Constantin Nita.

48′

Post update

Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

47′

Post update

Foul by David Hancko (Sparta Prague).

47′

Post update

Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Second Half

Second Half begins Sparta Prague 2, Celtic 1.

45’+2′

Half Time

First Half ends, Sparta Prague 2, Celtic 1.

45’+1′

Post update

Attempt saved. David Pavelka (Sparta Prague) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.

45’+1′

Post update

Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Borek Dockal with a cross following a set piece situation.

45’+1′

Post update

Dominik Plechaty (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

45’+1′

Post update

Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).

43′

Post update

Foul by Borek Dockal (Sparta Prague).

43′

Post update

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

41′

Post update

Offside, Celtic. Scott Bain tries a through ball, but Odsonne Edouard is caught offside.

38′

Goal!

Goal! Sparta Prague 2, Celtic 1. Lukas Julis (Sparta Prague) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Borek Dockal with a cross.

35′

Post update

Foul by Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague).

35′

Post update

Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

34′

Post update

Attempt missed. Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.

29′

Booking

Andreas Aalen Vindheim (Sparta Prague) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

29′

Post update

Foul by Andreas Aalen Vindheim (Sparta Prague).

29′

Post update

Diego Laxalt (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

26′

Goal!

Goal! Sparta Prague 1, Celtic 1. David Hancko (Sparta Prague) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Pavelka following a corner.

26′

Post update

Attempt missed. David Pavelka (Sparta Prague) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.

26′

Post update

Corner, Sparta Prague. Conceded by Ryan Christie.

23′

Post update

Offside, Sparta Prague. David Pavelka tries a through ball, but Lukas Julis is caught offside.

23′

Post update

Attempt blocked. David Pavelka (Sparta Prague) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Borek Dockal with a cross.

23′

Post update

Corner, Sparta Prague. Conceded by Callum McGregor.

22′

Post update

Ladislav Krejci II (Sparta Prague) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

22′

Post update

Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).

21′

Post update

Attempt saved. Lukas Julis (Sparta Prague) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

19′

Post update

Offside, Sparta Prague. Dominik Plechaty tries a through ball, but David Moberg Karlsson is caught offside.

19′

Post update

Attempt saved. Michal Travnik (Sparta Prague) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Borek Dockal.

17′

Post update

Corner, Sparta Prague. Conceded by Callum McGregor.

16′

Post update

Corner, Sparta Prague. Conceded by Callum McGregor.

15′

Goal!

Goal! Sparta Prague 0, Celtic 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi following a fast break.

12′

Post update

Foul by Michal Travnik (Sparta Prague).

12′

Post update

Diego Laxalt (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

7′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Florin Constantin Nita.

6′

Post update

Attempt missed. David Moberg Karlsson (Sparta Prague) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Borek Dockal.

4′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dominik Plechaty.

Kick Off

First Half begins.

Posted at 17:19 26 Nov17:19 26 Nov

Post update

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.