Atletico Madrid 2-0 Celtic: Summer signings Radamel Falcao & Diego on target as Neil Lennon’s side suffer Europa League defeat

The Hoops were fortunate to make it to the group stage following the expulsion of FC Sion, but gave themselves a mountain to climb early on as Radamel Falcao, a winner of this competition last season, gave Atletico the lead and they never looked back.

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Dundee Utd XI £120.00

Draw £12.00

Celtic £45.00

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Dundee Utd XI £150.00

Draw £14.00

Celtic £36.00

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Dundee Utd XI £50.00

Draw £37.50

Celtic £16.70

It took the Spaniards under three minutes to take the lead as last season’s Europa League top-scorer Falcao beat the Celtic defence in the air from a right-sided corner and headed home from nine yards out.

Two minutes, Celtic should have equalised as the Scots hit Atletico on the counter-attack through Keram Beyal and Gary Hooper, but after a nice one-two, Hooper couldn’t get the ball out of his feet when he wanted to shoot and Thibaut Courtois made the save at his feet.

The first half was mostly contested around the Celtic penalty area with the Bhoys defending relatively well, whilst their Spanish hosts struggled to carve open clear opportunities.

Ten minutes from half-time, Diego forced a good stop from Fraser Forster as the Brazilian international unleashed a powerful left-footed drive, but the Newcastle United-ownded keeper parried the effort off to his right and Atletico went into the break one-up.

Celtic started the second-half brightly with Ki Sung-Yeung testing Courtois from some 30-yards and the goalkeeper - on-loan from Chelsea - pulled off a flying save to tip the ball over.

Moments later the home side were calling for a penalty when Diego was bundled to the floor under pressure from Glenn Loovens as the defender attempted to get himself between the ball and the goal, but the referee waved play on.

A second goal did come for Atletico and with it went Celtic’s chances of getting anything out of the match.

Turkish winger Arda Turan beat Mark Wilson on his outside before cutting the ball back into the area once he reached the goal-line and waiting to stroke the ball home was Diego as the Brazilian notched his first goal for the club.

Arda was causing trouble again 15 minutes from time as he tried to curl a right-footed shot into the top far corner of the net from the left side of the penalty area, but Forster threw himself towards the ball and tipped it onto the crossbar.

Celtic were much improved after the break, however they still failed to trouble Courtois in the Atletico goal.

In the dying minutes, Arda forced another decent save from Forster as the Turkey international ghosted in behind the Celtic defence before attempting to dink the ball over the on-rushing'keeper, but the score remained 2-0 to Atletico and it was fairly comfortbale for the La Liga side.