Celtic endured another bruising European night at home as Roma produced a clinical and composed performance to claim a 3–0 victory in the UEFA Europa League league phase, extending Wilfried Nancy’s difficult start in charge of the Scottish champions. The result marked Roma’s third away win of the campaign and left Celtic slipping further into danger in their fight to reach the knockout rounds.
The pressure was already building around Celtic Park following a disappointing Scottish Premiership defeat to Hearts, and any hopes of a response were quickly dashed by a disastrous opening that set the tone for the evening.
Nightmare Start Sets the Tone
Roma needed just six minutes to open the scoring, though Celtic played an unfortunate role in their own downfall. From a Matías Soulé corner, Liam Scales rose highest inside his own penalty area, but instead of clearing the danger, he powered a header off the underside of the crossbar and into his own net. The early own goal stunned the home crowd and handed Roma the ideal platform to control proceedings.
The visitors, expertly organised by Gian Piero Gasperini, sensed vulnerability and continued to push. Stephan El Shaarawy and Zeki Çelik both tested Celtic’s resolve with speculative efforts, while the Hoops struggled to string together meaningful possession under sustained pressure.
Roma Turn the Screw
Celtic’s problems deepened midway through the first half when another costly mistake nearly resulted in a second goal. A careless turnover in their own half allowed Evan Ferguson to pounce, with the Irish striker smashing a fierce effort against the post. It was a warning Celtic failed to heed.
Kasper Schmeichel was called into action soon after, reacting sharply to tip Soulé’s curling strike away from the bottom corner. However, Roma’s dominance was becoming overwhelming, and their second goal felt inevitable.
Nine minutes before the interval, Roma finally doubled their advantage. A purposeful move down the right flank saw Çelik burst forward before squaring the ball into the box. Ferguson showed excellent composure to control and finish past Schmeichel, opening his Europa League account and underlining Roma’s superiority.
Missed Chances Prove Costly
Only after going 2–0 down did Celtic begin to show some attacking intent. Reo Hatate was released through on goal shortly after Roma’s second, but the Japanese midfielder squandered a golden opportunity, blazing his shot high over the bar when accuracy was required.
That miss proved hugely significant. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Roma struck again with ruthless efficiency. Soulé drilled a low pass into Ferguson, who spun sharply and powered his effort beyond Schmeichel to complete his brace and leave Celtic staring at a mountain to climb.
Penalty Woe Deepens Celtic Misery
Celtic were handed a rare lifeline just before the break when Mario Hermoso brought down Arne Engels inside the penalty area. However, the Hoops’ night went from bad to worse as Engels stepped up and struck the post, with the rebound bouncing harmlessly away.
Instead of heading into half-time with renewed belief, Celtic trudged off trailing 3–0, having been punished for every error while failing to capitalise on their few moments of promise.
Second-Half Changes, Same Story
Wilfried Nancy responded by introducing three substitutes at the interval, including Kelechi Iheanacho, in a bid to spark a comeback. The Nigerian striker almost made an immediate impact, but eight minutes after the restart he missed a glaring chance from close range, dragging his shot wide with Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar rooted.
Celtic continued to press, and they thought they had finally found a breakthrough just after the hour mark when Iheanacho turned home an Engels cross. Celebrations were short-lived, however, as VAR intervened to rule the goal out for offside.
Roma, unfazed by the setback, remained composed and disciplined. Substitute Leon Bailey appeared to add a fourth goal shortly after his introduction with a well-placed finish, only for VAR to once again deny the goal for offside.
Schmeichel was then forced into a smart save with his foot to prevent Bailey from scoring moments later, but Roma had already done more than enough.
Roma Strengthen Position, Celtic on the Brink
The final whistle confirmed a commanding away victory for Roma, who now sit just one point outside the top eight places in the Europa League league phase. Gasperini’s side once again demonstrated their tactical maturity, defensive solidity, and cutting edge on the road.
For Celtic, the defeat was far more concerning. A second home loss in the competition under Nancy leaves the Scottish champions clinging to 24th place—the final qualifying position for the knockout rounds. With momentum slipping and confidence shaken, Celtic face an uphill battle to keep their European campaign alive.
As Roma march forward with confidence, Celtic must regroup quickly or risk seeing their Europa League hopes fade away before the league phase reaches its conclusion.
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