Category Archives: Europa League

Zenit 3-0 Celtic Europa League Second Leg February 2018- Hoops stumble out of Europe again

Scotland’s last remaining representative in European competition went out rather tamely as Celtic slumped to a 3:0 loss against Zenit St.Petersburg in the second leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie.

Brendan Rodgers’ men had won the first leg 1:0, and had progressed from the last ten European knockout ties where they had won the first leg. A disastrous recent away record in Europe (last clean sheet on the road was back in 2009 against Hamburg), and Zenit’s impressive home form (2 defeats in the last 15 years at home in European competition) were the factors against them.

The 3:0 defeat was Celtic’s heaviest away one in the Europa League (Or the UEFA Cup as it was called back then) since a 5:1 loss to Neuchatel Xamak in the Ro32 nearly three decades ago.

The manner of the defeat would’ve definitely hurt Celtic fans. None of Zenit’s goals were superb or spectacular, and if it had been prime Artur Boruc in goal instead of Dorus de Vries, the story might have been different. Continue reading Zenit 3-0 Celtic Europa League Second Leg February 2018- Hoops stumble out of Europe again

Napoli knocked out, Atalanta suffer late heartbreak against Dortmund

It was a mixed bag for the four Italian teams in action in the Europa League earlier this evening, with two crashing out and two making it to the round of 16.

One obvious qualifier was AC Milan, who beat Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 at the San Siro, adding to their 3-0 first leg win in Bulgaria.

The other, perhaps not so obvious qualifier was Lazio. The Biancocelesti had lost 1-0 to Steaua in the first leg in Romania, but found their mojo to win 5-1 at the Olimpico, and thus completed a 5-2 win on aggregate. Continue reading Napoli knocked out, Atalanta suffer late heartbreak against Dortmund