Timo Werner scored his first Champions League goal for RB Leipzig to help them produce one of the most comfortable football scores of the midweek action. The team of Ange Postecoglou knew they needed to win to have a chance to advance in the competition after the World Cup, and they had early opportunities through Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Daizen Maeda. Before Timo Werner headed in the opening goal for the visitors in the 74th minute, Giorgos Giakoumakis also came close. Then, in the dying seconds, Emil Forsberg scored to give Leipzig their second victory over Celtic in as little as a week and move them into second place in Group F.
While a top-two finish is no longer possible, Real Madrid’s late equalizer away to Shakhtar Donetsk gave Celtic hope of salvaging a Europa League spot. Shakhtar Donetsk is currently four points ahead in third and will travel to Glasgow in two weeks. Three minutes before halftime, Celtic lost another winger, Liel Abada, to injury in addition to the absent Jota. Within 60 seconds, the recurring theme of their European campaign continued as Maeda squandered a golden opportunity by crouching to head Abada’s cross wide from four yards.
Long stretches of possession by Leipzig eventually took the edge off the game, though, as Dominik Szoboszlai returned David Raum’s deep cross beyond the opposing post after a promising chance. After being plagued on the break, Celtic needed strong blocks from O’Riley and Moritz Jenz, who were both playing in a deep midfield position. After Leipzig worked the ball down their left side, the breakthrough occurred at the other end. When Andre Silva reached the byline, he clipped the ball back for Werner to leave for home. Celtic had a chance to tie the score, but Giakoumakis headed Forrest’s cross wide from close range and O’Riley had a shot palmed away.
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