Celtic 0-1 Atletico Madrid: Arda Turan strike secures three points for Spanish giants

Celtic face possible elimination from the Europa League after losing 1-0 at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

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

In the penultimate group game of the continental competition, the Spanish side took the lead from Turkish international Arda Turan, whose strike from outside the box proved too powerful for Bhoys goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

The Glaswegian club have been fine form throughout November, winning all five games, but they now have to win their final Group I game away to Udinese to qualify for the final 32 of the competition.

Los Colchoneros manager, Gregorio Manzano, will be delighted to see his side leave Celtic Park with three points and guaranteed qualification for the knockout stages.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon made one change from the team which thrashed St Mirren in the SPL on Saturday 5-0, with Ki Sung-Yeung replacing weekend hat-trick hero Gary Hooper.

Star striker Radamel Falcao had to settle for a place on the Atletico bench as the Colombian international was still deemed not fully recovered from injury.

The first clear-cut chance of the match came immediately when Eduardo Salvio put a simple header wide of the right post from only a few yards out, stooping low when unmarked in front of goal a minute into the game.

        On the brink | Celtic require victory away to Udinese to remain in the Europa League

The Argentine continued to be instrumental in causing problems when he nearly pounced on a cross from the left wing, causing Forster to spill before the ball was hoofed out of the area.

Quarter of an hour in and it was Celtic’s turn to pressurise their opponent's box. Georgios Samaras, a tireless worker on the night, forced a reaction save from Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

From the resultant corner, Hoops striker Anthony Stokes' headed effort was well saved by Chelsea loanee Courtois, before the referee called play back for an infringement in the penalty area.

Despite Celtic enjoying long periods of possession it was the visitors who took the lead on 30 minutes.

Ribas Diego’s corner was half-cleared by Celtic full-back Daniel Majstorovic before Turan struck the ball low and hard into the back of net via the palm of Forster, with the Hoops stopper not seeing the long range effort until late.

Lennon, sensing the game could easily slip out of the host’s grasps if they conceded again, sent striker Hooper on at half-time for defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama.

The La Liga club continued to see the lion’s share of possession as the final 45 minutes got underway, however, peppering the home side with corners and crosses.

Midfielder Sung-Yeung had looked out of his depth for much of the match but nearly levelled the scoreline with a dipping right-footed free-kick on 65 minutes which was tipped over intelligently by Courtois.

Moments later, an out-swinging corner was headed back towards the goalmouth by Charlie Mulgrew and Hooper knocked the ball into the back of the net, but the goal was ruled wrongly by the official as offside.

Celtic club captain Scott Brown made his return to action off the bench with little over 20 minutes remaining, as did former Porto forward Falcao, but neither were able to impact in the match.

The Hoops, pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but were fortunate to survive a late barrage from the Spaniards, who looked to exploit the gaps in the Celtic defence.

Substitute Brown had a stoppage time opportunity but Courtois pulled off another low save, with the game finishing 1-1, meaning Lennon's side require victory away to Udinese to remain in the competition.