Celtic vs. Manchester City: Score and Reaction from 2016 Champions League Match
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola failed to win for the first time in charge of his new club on Wednesday, as his team had to come from behind three times to draw 3-3 against Celtic in a UEFA Champions League classic.
The match started at a frantic pace, with Moussa Dembele’s opener equalised by Fernandinho inside the opening 11 minutes. Celtic edged in front again after a Raheem Sterling own goal, although the City man made amends by levelling before the break.
Within 61 seconds of the restart, Dembele put Celtic back in front again with a clever finish, although Nolito's poacher's effort saw City level for a third time before the hour mark.
For Celtic to take anything from this contest, it was vital they started well, and with a raucous backing from their fanbase, the men in green and white did exactly that.
Admittedly there was a touch of luck about the goal, as Dembele looked to be offside when he deflected Erik Sviatchenko’s near-post header past Claudio Bravo. But those at Celtic Park didn’t mind one jot, with the stadium sent into raptures just three minutes in.
As noted by Nick Miller of the Guardian, it was the least the Scottish champions deserved after a tremendous start to the game:
Indeed, the hosts continued to pile forward, with former City man Scott Sinclair causing problems with his pace and trickery. But eventually the visitors were able to find a foothold and, following their first spell of pressure, were level again.
After a sweeping move down the right, the ball fell to Aleksandar Kolarov on the edge of the area. His shot struck Fernandinho, with the ball falling kindly for the Brazilian in the box, and he swept home left-footed to restore parity, with Celtic’s defenders looking for offside.
Per OptaJoe, despite being the midfield anchor in this City side, he’s proved a big threat in the final third for the team away from home:
The equaliser could have been the cue for Celtic to crumble, but their early dominance continued, and once again they were privy to a stroke of fortune.
To their credit, the home side put together a fine breakaway, with Tom Rogic sliding in Kieran Tierney in the left channel. He sought to steer the ball into the box, although it took a huge deflection off Sterling, sneaking in at Bravo’s near post.
Once more, Celtic Park shuddered. But yet again there was barely time for those in attendance to catch their breath, as the England international atoned for his own goal.
After Dembele lost possession, David Silva threaded a pinpoint pass into Sterling’s path. From there, the winger kept his composure tremendously, stopping the ball, leaving the defenders dazzled and picking his spot. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was impressed with the skill:
Eventually the referee called time on a relentless half of football, and aside from a couple of defensive lapses, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers would have been delighted with the effort of his players.
The Northern Irishman would have been even happier when the action resumed again, with Celtic and Dembele catching City off guard just two minutes into the half.
After more ropey defending from the Premier League side, the youngster found time in the area with his back to goal and a bouncing ball to deal with. But he executed a fine, overhead finish on the turn to give Celtic the lead for a third time.
The drama continued too, with City again refusing to lie down. This time Silva somehow played in Sergio Aguero with a magnificent pass, and the striker's shot was parried back into the box by Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon; Nolito was there to make it 3-3 in the 55th minute.
Per Bleacher Report UK, this one was turning into one of the great European games:
From there, City started to make their superior quality tell, keeping a jaded Celtic back for sustained spells as the pace finally seeped away from the contest moving into the final 10 minutes. However, Rodgers' men defended gamely as the clock ticked down, with the visitors limited to pot shots from distance.
Eventually, with the backing of their supporters ringing in their ears, the home side hung on for a memorable point.
Dramatic nights in European football are nothing new to those who frequent Celtic Park, although even in the vast annals of memorable games at this stadium, this fixture will live long in the memory. Rodgers will be extremely pleased with how his side approached this one, especially after losing 7-0 to Barcelona in Week 1.
Guardiola's perfect record may be over, although his side remain in a strong position to qualify from a testing group. Consecutive fixtures against the manager's former club, Barcelona, will likely determine whether City finish top of the pile.
Reaction
Afterwards, Rodgers beamed about his gallant players' efforts. "That was a big, big performance from us, and we felt we could have won, but we're are happy with a point. Collectively, we were outstanding," he told BT Sport (h/t BBC Sport). "The support was amazing and that combination of the players' effort and the atmosphere made it a difficult night for Manchester City."
The Celtic boss also praised the backdrop conjured by the supporters, insisting it was the best he's experienced:
Guardiola, meanwhile, hailed the battling qualities of his players. "It was a fantastic game for everybody," he said, per BT Sport (h/t BBC Sport). "We scored three goals but didn't win. It was an amazing effort to recover in this stadium. Manchester City don't have the history in Europe, we have to create it. This might be an important lesson for us—how to start well."
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