Celtic’s Europa League campaign suffered a setback on Thursday as they lost 2-0 at home to Sporting Braga. The Scottish champions were already trailing by a goal when forward Kelechi Iheanacho appeared to have scored an equalizer. However, following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a handball decision.
The controversy surrounding the disallowed goal has sparked debate, with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers expressing his disagreement with the decision. “There’s absolutely no way from every angle you look at that he’s touched it,” Rodgers said in a post-match interview. “So it’s hit his face, he’s gone away and finished it really well. That’s a big moment in the game for us.”
Braga had taken the lead through Ricardo Horta’s long-range effort, and they sealed their victory with a second goal from Gabri Martinez 10 minutes from full-time. The win marks a significant setback for Celtic, who are looking to make a strong impression in the Europa League.
The match was closely contested, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. However, Braga’s clinical finishing proved to be the difference, as they capitalized on their chances to secure the win. The loss leaves Celtic with a challenging task ahead, as they look to bounce back from this defeat and regain momentum in the competition.
The Europa League is a premier international club competition, featuring top teams from across Europe. The tournament provides a platform for teams to showcase their skills and compete against the best in the continent. For Celtic, the competition offers an opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition and demonstrate their capabilities on the international stage.
As the Europa League campaign continues, Celtic will look to regroup and refocus ahead of their next match. The team will aim to learn from their mistakes and work on improving their performance, with the goal of achieving a better outcome in their upcoming fixtures. With the competition heating up, Celtic will need to be at their best if they are to make a lasting impact in the tournament.
