Europa League Group Stages
Matchday Three
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…2
(Christie 67, Jullien 89)

LAZIO…1
(Lazzari 39)

PARADISE was witness to another memorable European night as Celtic came from a goal down to defeat Lazio 2-1. Neil Lennon’s side showed their character and their attacking perseverance paid off with a last-minute winner which sees them remain top of their UEFA Europa League group.

Manuel Lazzari fired the Italians ahead just before the break but Ryan Christie drew the Hoops level after half-time. Christopher Jullien then headed in the winner with just a minute remaining.

Neil Lennon had stressed the importance of starting well in the big games and Celtic did just that as they set a good tempo from the off.

It almost led to a goal inside the first three minutes when Elhamed released Forrest with a slick through pass on the right flank. He dashed towards the byline before picking out Edouard but Francesco Acerbi made a crucial block.

Celtic asserted control on the game early on, particularly in midfield where Brown and McGregor’s aggression and reading of the play freed up Ryan Christie in the number 10 role.

Lazio defended well but Celtic’s pressure prevented them from really settling into the game. The had only one clear shot on goal inside the first 25 minutes, with Joaquin Correa’s effort from distance straight at Fraser Forster.

Christie came closest to putting Celtic ahead with a well struck shot from around 20 yards that hit the outside of the post. Later McGregor then had a good attempt blocked as it looked as if Celtic were edging closer to a well-deserved goal.

However, Lazio then turned the game on its head with goal against the run of play shortly before the break. A counter-attack saw Lazzari utilise his pace before cutting in from the right and blasting his shot beyond Forster into the roof of the net.

A defensive error by the Italian side early in the second period nearly saw Celtic draw level. Edouard latched on to a stray ball near the byline and quickly back-heeled it to Christie whose tried to slot it across goal before the keeper could get back into position but his attempt was blocked.

The Serie A side were well-drilled defensively and Celtic’s pressure in the final third gave them an opportunity to showcase their efficiency on the counter-attack. They almost increased their lead when a quick break ended with Correa’s shot coming back off the post.

Celtic’s persistence in attack finally paid off on 67 minutes when Edouard slipped a perfectly-weighted pass to Christie just inside the box. The 24-year-old hit it first time and curled his shot across goal and beyond the keeper.

Ciro Immobile came off the bench and the Italian internationalist looked an immediate threat. He tore down the right wing and cut a pass back for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic but Brown had tracked back to block the shot.

Both sides frantically pushed for a winner in the closing stages and Fraser Forster made an incredible save to deny Lazio a winner. Lazzari broke away in possession and drilled in a perfect pass to the near post for Marco Parolo, but the Celtic stopper spread himself to stop the close-range effort.

Celtic responded with chances of their own. Brown was handed a great chance when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area. The Celtic captain struck the ball cleanly but his shot could not find its way through the packed penalty area.

Paradise erupted with five minutes remaining when Jullien rose high above the Lazio defence to head in Christie’s corner and conclude a memorable comeback for Celtic.

Forster came to Celtic’s rescue in the dying minutes with a world-class save to deny Danilo Cataldi an equaliser with a rocket shot from the edge of the area seconds before the final whistle.

And that final whistle sparked scenes of celebration on the pitch and in the stands as the Celts enjoyed another incredible European night at Paradise.

CELTIC: Forster; Elhamed (Bitton 83), Ajer, Jullien, Bolingoli (Hayes 85); Brown, McGregor, Elyounoussi (Rogic 65), Forrest, Christie; Edouard
Subs: Gordon, Bauer, Sinclair, Bayo

LAZIO: Strakosha; Leiva, Correa (Immobile 72), Bastos, Parolo, Caicedo (Cataldi 85), Milinkovic-Savic, Jony (Lulic 68), Lazzari, Acerbi, Vavro
Subs: Guerrieri, Felipe, Patric, Berisha

Website Man of the Match: Christopher Jullien

Super Celtic sink Lazio in Euro thriller at Paradise