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Celtic suffered their second consecutive loss at home as AC Milan clinched a 3-1 victory in the opener of Group H of the Europa League.
The Scottish champions were still sore from their 2-0 defeat in Saturday’s Old Firm derby at Celtic Park when they had to face the Italian giants, who beat Shamrock Rovers in qualifying.
The Serie A team marred an enthusiastic start from the hosts in the 14th minute when midfielder Rade Krunic headed a cross from Samuel Castillejo before Brahim Diaz added a second with a shot just before the break.
Celtic’s response was admirable and Mohamed Elyounoussi cut the deficit with a header from second-half teammate Ryan Christie in the 76th minute, but Milan’s substitute Jens Petter Hauge took the win with a goal from counterattack in added time.
It was the first time Celtic lost back-to-back games since December 2018, when they went to RB Salzburg and then Hibernian, but boss Neil Lennon will have been encouraged by their second-half display when they refused to give up.
The 2-0 loss to their Old Firm rivals, the Rangers, certainly surprised Celtic.
Lennon made two changes with forwards Leigh Griffiths and Albian Ajeti as a pair for the first time, replacing Patryk Klimala and Elyounoussi.
AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli made five changes to the team that beat rivals Inter 2-1 at the weekend to remain undefeated this season and be the best in Serie A.
However, evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored twice against Inter, again led the line at the age of 39 and made his first appearance at Parkhead since coming as a substitute for Ajax in a Champions League tie. in 2001.
Once again, fans were not allowed into the stadium, but Celtic started out as if they were being cheered on by a packed room.
However, they were hit by an Italian punch.
Castillejo swerved from the right and threw a cross for Krunic to get between defenders Stephen Welsh and Irish center-back Shane Duffy to direct his header on goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas.
Celtic kept up a good rhythm while defending, but then the Serie A team started to occasionally flex their muscles and in the interval they had doubled their lead.
In the 42nd minute, Ibrahimovic sent defender Theo Hernández running down the left and as he passed inside Diaz, the attacker carefully dodged Duffy and Callum McGregor and launched a low shot at Barkas.
Lennon replaced Welsh and Griffiths with Elyounoussi and Christie for the start of the second half and went to a back room in a remodeled formation with some early glee.
In the 51st minute, Celtic winger Diego Laxalt, on loan from the visitors, finished off a promising move by passing over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Tom Rogic replaced Captain Scott Brown in the 64th minute, but it was another replacement, Elyounoussi, who gave Celtic a lifeline as he headed from Christie’s delivery.
The hosts gave their all in search of a draw, but in the second minute of the three added, Milan broke down and Alexis Saelemaekers played at Hauge and his substitute teammate slipped the ball to Barkas.
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