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Europe continues to punish Neil Lennon and Celtic. The Scottish champions threatened a 2-0 comeback against Milan, but it is deflation, not bailouts, that characterizes their season in the Europa League and Champions League so far.
When Milan substitute Jens Petter Hauge broke through in the 92nd minute, all hopes of a Celtic comeback went with him. The young Norwegian, who scored against him Rossoneri In the qualifying rounds for Bodø / Glimt, he beat Vasilis Barkas with a convincing finish that added a touch of praise to the final score. But there was no doubt that superior quality was finally being said.
Milan were comfortably on the rise at halftime thanks to goals from Rade Krunic and Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz on loan. It takes a change in form and character from Lennon to ignite a determined second-half recovery that found reward in the header of substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi. The return, however, was out of reach.
“I thought we deserved better,” said the Celtic coach. “We received two soft goals in the first half, but we were very good in the second and we deserved more. The response and reaction to a disappointing loss on Saturday [against Rangers] it was so much better and with the players coming back and improving there is a lot to look forward to. He’s slowly but surely coming back. “
Lennon’s current preference for 3-5-2 was the subject of intense debate after the Old Firm loss and will not diminish now. He persisted with the same players and line-up as on Saturday and achieved similar results. Just with the introduction of Ryan Christie and Elyounoussi at halftime, plus the switch to a four-man defense, Celtic looked comfortable in the back and powerful in attack.
In fairness to the Celtic coach, his options were again limited by a long injury list with Christie fresh out of quarantine, Odsonne Édouard, Nir Bitton and Hatem Elhamed out for Covid-19 related reasons, and James Forrest more. influential defender Christopher Jullien absent due to injury. “We couldn’t start 4-3-3 because we don’t have players,” Lennon insisted. “Ryan was in no condition to start.”
Celtic’s immediate response to Saturday was encouraging. The hosts were sharp and assertive with Diego Laxalt, clearly keen to prove a point to his parent club, prominent on the left. They stretched Milan frequently on the flanks, but poor deliveries, mainly from Jérémie Frimpong, meant that Gianluigi Donnarumma was not tested as often as he should have been in the visiting goal.
Milan struck from his first significant attack of the contest. Samu Castillejo took possession on the right and crossed Laxalt before crossing to the heart of the penalty area. Shane Duffy and Stephen Welsh got off and Krunic, coming in between the pair, arched a perfect header past Barkas.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who decided on Saturday the Milan derby with two goals at age 39, set the example not only in attack. Defensively he was tireless as well, earning set pieces and falling back to regain possession when necessary. The veteran’s teammates responded to his lead and, aided and spurred on by Celtic’s increasingly sloppy performance, Stefano Pioli’s side dominated the rest of the first half.
Milan doubled their lead when Ibrahimovic released Theo Hernandez quick and easy down the left. Celtic were so open, so lopsided, that it looked like a team throwing men forward looking for an equalizer in injury time. Hernandez reveled in the space and faced Diaz, who circled Duffy and Callum McGregor with ease before driving low past Barkas.
Lennon’s halftime changes and the subsequent introduction of Tom Rogic brought about the necessary recovery. Elyounoussi was dangerous from the moment he set foot on the field and it was his good header from Christie’s corner that knocked Celtic back into play. In injury time, however, Celtic were caught when they committed the men forward. Alexis Saelemaekers sent fellow substitute Hauge running away from Duffy with a penetrating pass and Milan’s victory was sealed.