Celtic faced a harsh reality check in Germany as they were decisively defeated 7-1 by a relentless Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion.
The new format of the Champions League had previously offered Celtic opportunities, but tonight’s match highlighted the stark quality gap between elite teams and the rest, as Dortmund sliced through Brendan Rodgers’ side with ease.
The game started perfectly for Dortmund when exciting English winger Jamie Gittens capitalized on a lucky bounce in midfield, leading to a foul by Kasper Schmeichel and a penalty awarded in the seventh minute. Emre Can confidently converted the spot-kick, opening the floodgates.
Celtic managed to equalize just two minutes later when Arne Engels set up Daizen Maeda for a close-range finish. However, that was the pinnacle of Celtic’s success for the night. Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi took control of the game, scoring a first-half hat-trick that showcased his exceptional skill. Adding to the woes for Celtic, £18 million signing Serhou Guirassy converted another penalty after Adeyemi was fouled by Engels, leaving the score at 5-1 by halftime.
The second half didn’t offer much respite for Celtic, as Dortmund added two more goals, with Guirassy finding the net again and Felix Nmecha scoring with a low drive, completing the rout.
It was a sobering evening for the Scottish champions, but stay tuned for all the live reactions from Dortmund.
Key Events:
- Final Summary: Celtic struggled to contain Dortmund’s relentless attack, culminating in a staggering scoreline.
- Near Miss: Just as Idah came close to pulling one back for Celtic, they conceded a seventh goal moments later.
- Dortmund’s Dominance: The Germans recorded an impressive 13 shots on target out of 16 attempts, displaying their superiority throughout the match.
- Close Call: Dortmund nearly extended their lead again when Duranville raced through, forcing a fantastic save from Schmeichel. Gittens was poised to score off the rebound but couldn’t find his footing.
- Substitution: Anthony Ralston replaced Alistair Johnston, who picked up a slight injury.
- Celtic Opportunity: Auston Trusty made a forward drive and delivered a brilliant pass to Idah, who pushed towards goal but was thwarted by the combined efforts of Anton and Schlotterbeck.
- Dortmund’s Continued Pressure: Bensebaini launched a long diagonal ball aimed at Duranville, but Schmeichel hesitated, allowing Celtic to regroup and clear the danger.
- Added Time: The match concluded with just three minutes of stoppage time.
Dortmund Booking
Substitute Bensebaini received a yellow card for a late challenge on Engels, catching the midfielder on the top of his foot.
Final Whistle: Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic
It was a stunning 7-1 victory for Dortmund, which brutally exposed the disparity in quality between the two teams. Celtic’s poor defending significantly contributed to their downfall. Brendan Rodgers has a tough task ahead as he looks to regroup after this challenging night for the Scottish champions.
