Real Betis 4 Celtic 3: Hoops throw away two-goal lead as they suffer Europa League defeat
INJURY-RAVAGED Celtic made it twenty trips to Spain without a win in an incredible topsy-turvy Europa League opener.
Ange Postecoglou’s side wanted to make history in Seville – the city that’s inextricably linked with their European past.
And an incredible start saw them two up inside 27 minutes when Albian Ajeti then Josip Juranovic’s penalty put them in dreamland.
But Betis came roaring back with a double from Juan Miranda and Juanmi in the space of three first-half minutes – and strikes from Borja Iglesias and Juanmi again in a similar second-half spell.
Tony Ralston headed in Celtic’s third but they couldn’t snatch a dramatic point from an engrossing, dramatic, nervy game played in a noisy, hostile environment.
Once Betis overcame their early sloppiness, they dominated – but Celtic will wonder how the night would’ve gone had they showed more defensive solidity after that great start.
Postecoglou’s starting line-up had underlined the paucity of alternatives he had available to him.
With Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, James Forrest and Georgios Giakoumakis all unavailable, his selection had an experimental look about it.
Most read in Football
Ismaila Soro came in for his first start in nine games, while youngster Adam Montgomery made his first start of the season. Joe Hart captained the side.
Of the nine subs listed, the outfield players had made just six European starts between them and only James McCarthy – the only Celts sub used – could have been viewed as providing a goal threat.
It didn’t make for optimistic reading for the Group G opener, but Postecoglou’s patchwork team started sensationally, penning a hesitant-looking home side back in their own box and racing into a two-goal lead.
The home side hadn’t kept a clean sheet this season and a comical opening half-hour showed why.
After just two minutes, Tom Rogic’s pass sent winger Jota in on goal but home ‘keeper Claudio Bravo raced out to snatch the ball from his feet.
It was a slack moment and Betis’ openness and general defensive lethargy got its comeuppance when Celtic went ahead after 13 minutes.
Jota’s trickery on the right created the space and although Victor Ruiz got to the ball first, he played it off Ajeti into the Betis net.
Referee Fran Jovic initially ruled the goal out for handball, but after a check the German VAR confirmed the legitimacy of it to the official.
Betis tried to respond immediately and Hart made a great diving save to his right from Andres Guardado’s header.
On a hot and humid evening, the atmosphere in the Benito Villamarin Stadium was similarly oppressive – and the home side reacted with fury after 20 minutes when they believed Celtic should have reduced to ten men.
HIT BACK Rangers respond over Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton access row
Ismaila Soro had already been booked for a foul on Nabil Fekir when he went in on Betis skipper Joaquin.
The referee allowed play to continue but Betis were enraged when the ball finally went out and he didn’t administer a second yellow.
It looked a let-off for the Ivorian and the blue-shirted Betis players clustered around referee Jovic – but a booking for Guardado for dissent was the only card he showed.
With the home side continuing to look shaky, Celtic incomprehensibly went two ahead after 27 minutes – from the penalty spot.
Rogic and Turnbull combined and when Ajeti went through on goal he reached the ball ahead of keeper Claudio Bravo but was clearly cleaned out by the keeper’s trailing leg.
Josip Juranovic stayed calm as the home fans cranked up the noise and bulleted the penalty into the corner of the net.
Incredibly, it could have been three in their next attack.
Jota again escaped his marker Juan Miranda and attempted to chip Bravo but the keeper made a desperate block and Ajeti couldn’t turn the loose ball home.
But it was end-to-end action and Hart was forced into another great save, touching Miranda’s shot against the post.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS AND FREE BETS
That gave the home side hope that the game wasn’t dead – and the bizarre nature of the encounter was such that within seven minutes of being two goals in front, Celtic’s good work was undone and the game was level.
First Miranda advanced from full-back and after good build-up play by Juanmi, he side-footed home.
Now it was Celtic’s turn to wobble – and three minutes after Betis’ first, they were on level terms.
Borja Iglesias sprung the Celtic defensive line and as Hart advanced, he passed for Juanmi to slot into an empty net.
The stadium fairly crackled with excitement during the interval and any prospect of the drama letting up after the re-start quickly evaporated.
In the opening seven minutes, both sides had chances to score and Betis established a two-goal advantage.
Ajeti blazed over from Rogic’s pass then at the other end Juanmi was just unable to reach Miranda’s cross.
But Betis had the initiative and Iglesias put them ahead with a near-post finish from Sergio Canales’ cross.
Worse followed for Celtic two minutes later. The visitors failed to clear a corner and Juanmi’s drive went in off the base of Hart’s post.
Rogic saw a volley rebound from the Betis post following Jota’s cross and Iglesias’ drive fizzed across the face of goal – and Celtic ensured an anxious ending for the home fans when Ralston headed in Turnbull’s free-kick.
But they just couldn’t find that fourth which would’ve made it a Seville sensation.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page