COOLIFE GIST BLOG

Champions League - Ruthless Juventus punish Celtic errors

Champions League, Celtic Park - Celtic 0 Juventus 3 (Matri 3, Marchisio 77, Vucinic 83)

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Celtic were desperately unfortunate to lose 3-0 to Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie as the home side's dominance was undercut by the Italians' greater ruthlessness in front of goal at Celtic Park.

After suffering a first home defeat to Italian opposition since 1969, and an undeservedly-heavy one at that, Celtic's participation in the knockout stages looks to have been brought to a swift end due to a combination of their defensive fragility and impotence in attack.
Efe Ambrose, who only arrived back in Glasgow on Tuesday morning following African Cup of Nations-winning duty with Nigeria, was particularly culpable: the defender was caught out for both Alessandro Matri's third-minute opener and Mirko Vucinic's concluding goal on 83 minutes.
Before Claudio Marchisio scored a second for Juventus, Ambrose also had the misfortune to waste Celtic's best chance of the 90 minutes when he sent a free header straight at Gianluigi Buffon, with all the fine work of an outstanding victory against Barcelona in the group stage being undone by sloppy errors.
Juventus extended their unbeaten run in European matches to 17, with Celtic left needing a result of historic proportions in Turin if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the modern incarnation of the European Cup for the first time. In truth it is likely a task beyond them.
Celtic's team sheet announced they were without Georgios Samaras due to a hamstring problem but Ambrose was included despite his late arrival. It looked a huge gamble, and unfortunately for Celtic, and a stadium full of Bhoys fans who erupted with noise when the two teams emerged, the defender looked ill-prepared and found himself quickly at fault for the opening goal.
Ambrose failed to deal with a high ball and allowed Matri to muscle past him. The striker stabbed a shot under Fraser Forster and the ball just managed to sneak across the line before Kelvin Wilson hooked his foot round it and Marchisio swept the ball into the roof of the net himself.
It was a desperate setback yet Celtic never lost the courage to attack the reigning Serie A champions, raining a succession of shots in on the goal of the great Buffon. Victor Wanyama, so impressive against Barcelona, was prominent as he tested the Italy number one with two feisty long rangers, while Kris Commons also joined in with a thunderous first-time drive that Buffon did well to save with his fingers.
As impressive as their energy and application were, Celtic always looked vulnerable to balls over the top, particularly from Andrea Pirlo who was stroking the ball around extravagantly at times. One high ball allowed Matri to get the better of Ambrose again before Marchisio fired wide from a Federico Peluso cross, and the midfielder saw another effort blocked after a ball over from Pirlo allowed Vucinic to snake past Forster and cross.
Celtic's physical intensity drew a tetchy response from Juve. Scott Brown and Andrea Pirlo had to be separated following a couple of enthusiastic challenges from the Celtic skipper, while a rather farcical interlude saw both Gary Hooper and Stephan Lichtsteiner booked for persistent pushing in the box, with the two players continuing to go at it from every set piece and Lichsteiner in particular pushing his luck when constantly grappling with his opponent.