Celtic have blown it! Brendan Rodgers stunned by Kazakh side Kairat Almaty in embarrassing elimination from Champions League at play-off round

Reigning Scottish champions Celtic failed to qualify for the Champions League 2025-26 league stage after going down against Kairat Almaty 3-2 in penalties. After failing to score at home in the first leg, Celtic once again appeared toothless as the second leg in Almaty too ended in a goalless draw. In the tie-breaker, Adam Idah and Luke McCowan missed the first two penalties, while Daizen Maeda's miss in the team's fifth kick handed the opponent the tie. 

The elimination from the Champions League's play-off round comes as a huge shock for Brendan Rodgers' side, who had almost reached the round of 16 stage last season, only for Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies' later winner, which sealed the tie in the Bundesliga giants' favour.  

After the game, the Celtic boss expressed his disappointment, as he told reporters: "It’s bitterly disappointing because we were on the right track last season, working very well and playing really good football. To not be in there this season, it’s a huge blow for us. I think we all know the consequence. If you don’t win the tie, then you drop into the Europa League. So we want to be in the Champions League, but we aren’t.

"So the Europa League’s still a prestigious tournament, but we missed a massive opportunity here over these two games. It is a long journey. You’d rather be travelling and having won the game, but we haven’t."  

Celtic will be back in action this Sunday as they take on arch-rivals Rangers in a Scottish Premiership clash.