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Chris Sutton has delivered a short yet striking summary of Celtic’s Europa League defeat to Celta Vigo.
Things looked positive when Celtic midfielder Mika Baur opened the scoring two minutes into the second half, but they unravelled quickly, and Celta Vigo inflicted more European misery on the Hoops’ campaign.
It was the Spanish side’s first win in the competition this season, and it came from two goals in three minutes.
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It’s now three straight losses in the Europa League, leaving them second-to-last in the 36-team league format. Four European losses if you count that capitulation in Austria.
After the match, Sutton shared his thoughts. Usually he’d have a paragraph’s worth, but on Thursday night it was one simple line that would’ve been echoed by many supporters when the full-time whistle was blown.
I’d like to say tonight’s result was a surprise…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) October 22, 2026
He said: “I’d like to say tonight’s result was a surprise…”
Many would have delivered the same verdict after the defeat to Benfica. Celtic found themselves chasing that game early on, conceding a penalty five minutes in, and found themselves three goals down at half time.
They looked brighter in the second half, but missed chances, hit the woodwork, and allowed the Portuguese side to add a fourth late on, which was the final nail in the coffin. A case of too little, too late for Martin O’Neill’s side that night.
The worst performance of the campaign so far was perhaps the opening defeat to Ferencváros. Baur equalised right before half-time, then the Hungarian side went up the other end to restore their lead before the break, then added a third in the second half.
There is an adversity problem within this group. They can have their way domestically – although their problems have been exposed on that front at times this season – but far too often they are bullied by opponents on the European stage. Celtic Park used to be a ground teams would fear; now they come and toy with the hosts while raving about the iconic stadium in a manner that many now find condescending.