Another dangerous cross by Ulmer is met with the faintest of touches by the substitute Yabo in the six-yard box, but the ball goes wide and out of play for a throw-in.
90'
The home crowd, whose mood has drastically improved since the interval, continue to make their voices heard as the fourth official indicates three minutes of added time.
87'
JUNUZOVIC HITS THE POST! Salzburg with a great chance to make it 4-1, but the substitute’s shot hits the inside of Gordon’s left post and bounces clear after some more incisive play from the Group B table-toppers.
85'
R. Yabo enters the game and replaces M. Dabbur.
No hat-trick for Dabbur, but he earns the adulation of the home fans before coming off for Yabo with just over five minutes of normal time to play.
82'
L. Morgan enters the game and replaces O. Édouard.
Edouard, who impressed at the start before fading away, makes way for Morgan in Celtic's last change of the match.
80'
Not far off the target from the substitute Junuzovic, who curls in a good effort which leaves Gordon stretching to his right.
79'
F. Gulbrandsen enters the game and replaces H. Wolf.
Wolf goes down on the pitch as the physio takes a quick look at the midfielder, but it comes to nothing as he makes way for Gulbrandsen. The Norway international moves up front to partner Dabbur.
78'
R. Christie enters the game and replaces Y. Mulumbu.
Mulumbu makes way for Christie in the away side’s second change of the match.
75'
Lainer makes a late run into the box and gets the ball to Haidara who lays it off to Wolf, but his attempt is blocked by Boyata as damage limitation looks to be on the forefront of the away side’s minds after doing so well to take a 1-0 lead into half-time.
Minute
Description
73'
Penalty goal scored by M. Dabbur for Salzburg!
DABBUR SCORES THE PENALTY! He calmly slots the ball into the bottom right corner for his 11th of the season, and Salzburg extend their lead into a comfortable one. 3-1 to the hosts!
72'
J. Forrest goes off after a red card!
PENALTY TO SALZBURG! Ulmer is brought down by Forrest as he runs into the Celtic box, and there’s no arguments about the decision to not only award the penalty, but to also send off the Celtic winger as he gets his second yellow card for an admittedly foolish challenge.
71'
Z. Junuzović enters the game and replaces T. Minamino.
Celtic now on the front foot as they chase an equaliser themselves, and they will need to use the pace of Forrest and Sinclair if they are to have any chance of gaining a foothold.
Minamino earns himself a standing ovation by the Salzburg support as he makes way for Junuzovic in his team's first change of the match.
67'
The substitute Sinclair does extremely well to dart into the Salzburg danger area, and gains a corner out of it. The resulting set-piece by McGregor goes nowhere though, and the Bhoys concede a free-kick instead.
64'
It’s now the home crowd who are rocking after they had booed their men when they made their way down the tunnel earlier. Salzburg are looking revitalised after scoring twice to come back from behind.
61'
T. Minamino has scored a goal for Salzburg! Assist by A. Ulmer.
The Salzburg captain makes up for his lacklustre set-piece deliveries as his low cross causes problems for the Celtic backline, and falls into the path of a grateful Minamito who scores the home side’s second goal in five minutes.
MINAMITO GETS SALZBURG AHEAD! The Japan international runs into the box after Ulmer whips in a low ball into the danger area, and he taps it in for the home side to lead 2-1! It’s no more than he deserves after a tireless display all evening.
60'
S. Sinclair enters the game and replaces L. Griffiths.
Griffiths, who hasn’t had a sniff all match, makes way for Sinclair in Celtic’s first substitution of the game.
58'
The promising set-piece opportunity is a disappointing one, as captain Ulmer fires the ball high and over the bar.
57'
Y. Mulumbu gets yellow.
Lainer is fouled just outside of the box in dangerous free-kick territory, and Mulumbu picks up his team’s third booking of the match. Celtic are looking nervy after conceding.
55'
M. Dabbur has scored a goal for Salzburg! Assist by H. Wolf.
SALZBURG EQUALISE! Dabbur, whose second half so far has displayed a marked improvement, gets his 10th goal of the season after ghosting into the six-yard box and hitting it past Gordon who was in no man’s land. 1-1, and Salzburg have deserved to draw level!
Wolf does well to cross it into the path of the Israel international after a loose high ball is played towards him, and despite pressure from the nearest Celtic defender, he claims the assist as Salzburg look for a comeback victory.
52'
Schlager makes another dangerous run into the opposition box and tries to play the ball to Minamino, but the away backline deals with the threat once again.
51'
M. Dabbur gets yellow.
Dabbur, who has looked more of a danger in the past five minutes than in the previous 45 put together, chases after the ball in the Celtic box but fouls Lustig in the process. He gets the home side’s first booking for his troubles.
48'
Salzburg come out of the interval firing as expected, and it will be a long 45 minutes for the away side as they aim to get a first win in Austria in six attempts.
47'
DABBUR MISSES A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY! Barely onside, he latches on to Wolf’s ball and forces Gordon to rush in and stop the in-form forward’s chance with his outstretched palm! Salzburg gain another corner, but they should’ve equalised there!
46'
No player changes at the interval for either side, as Salzburg line up in a 4-3-1-2 with Wolf behind the front two as they seek to gain a foothold back in this match.
We get play restarted as the second half gets underway!
Celtic also change their shape, lining up for the second half in a 5-3-2 formation with Forrest and skipper Tierney occupying the wing-back positions and Lustig dropping to centre-back as they look to consolidate their slender lead in the Red Bull Arena.
45' +3
HALF-TIME: SALZBURG 0-1 CELTIC
45' +2
Another corner for Salzburg, as their captain Ulmer breaks into the Celtic box and takes a shot which is blocked and goes out for a corner. The set-piece barely gains any traction though, as the referee blows for the half-time break.
45'
The fourth official indicates three minutes of added time to be played.
44'
CELTIC GET A GOAL DISALLOWED! A quick break from the Bhoys falls into the path of Forrest, whose snapshot is saved by Walke. The loose ball falls to Edouard, who thought he had scored his and Celtic’s second, but replays show that he had strayed just offside. It is still 1-0 to the away side.
43'
J. Hendry gets yellow.
Hendry goes into the referee’s book for time-wasting after delaying to take a free-kick from the Celtic half.
42'
Schlager with a good chance to score after making a late run near the Celtic box, but his first-time effort from just outside the box goes well wide of Gordon’s left.
39'
C. McGregor gets yellow.
McGregor gets the first yellow card of the match after his outstretched leg takes down Lainer in the Salzburg half.
38'
Schlager shows his frustration, giving away a poor foul by dragging down Forrest on the wing.
37'
Another Salzburg corner goes nowhere, but the loose ball falls to Haidara, who passes to the onrushing Lainer. His cross is dealt with by the opposition defence, who clear it away. Despite this, the home side still have possession.
35'
Lifelong Celtic fan and celebrity Rod Stewart is in the stands, and he will be happy to see his side currently leading in Austria as they look to see out this half with a valuable lead.
33'
Lainer tries a hopeful shot from distance, and the right-back’s effort goes high and over the bar.
32'
Lainer whips in another cross from the wing, and the low ball barely misses the onrushing Minamoto, who has been giving the Celtic backline problems so far this half.
31'
Mulumbu does well to stop another incisive passage of Salzburg play, and concedes a corner in the process, which is cleared away once again.
29'
Despite the early goal, Celtic are barely hanging on here, as Salzburg look to profit from their overwhelming dominance of possession to gain an equaliser before half-time.
26'
The home side with another chance to draw level, but Minamino - who has been a real threat along with Schlager - fails to knock the ball past the outstretched leg of Boyata near the six-yard area, and is cleared away.
25'
Salzburg get their second corner of the match, and Ulmer’s corner is headed away from the back post.
24'
Minamino with a great chance to equalise! Schlager once again the architect, as he darts into the box and crosses an inviting ball into the path of the Japan international, who ghosts into Gordon’s near post and heads just over the bar!
22'
Schlager floats a lovely ball into the away box, but Minamino could not get to the loose ball quick enough. Goal-kick to Celtic.
20'
Salzburg are probing the ball around in the midfield area, which ends with Minamino nearly getting ahead of his marker, but Celtic quickly deal with the danger.
18'
Mulumbu fouls Wolf, and the home side have a free-kick in the Celtic half. The set-piece is underhit, and Celtic quickly break away with Forrest leading the charge, but Samassekou makes a good challenge and the ball is back with Salzburg as they chase an equaliser.
17'
Mulumbu snatches the ball in midfield, and plays it to McGregor who runs down the wing and gets a cross into the Salzburg box, but Ntcham’s shot is blocked by his team-mate Mulumbu and the play ends with a Tierney foul deep in the home side’s half.
14'
A neat little interchange between Dabbur and Wolf ends with the former snapping at his shot, and the Israel international’s effort tamely goes wide to Gordon’s right.
12'
Lainer whips in a decent ball from the right which meets the head of Minamino, but the chance goes well over the bar.
10'
Forrest gives away a cheap corner, and the resulting set-piece is dealt with by Griffiths on the near post.
8'
Wolf attempts a shot on goal from just inside the box, but is charged down by Hendry and the ball is cleared away for a throw-in.
7'
Schlager runs down the left and does well to get in the Celtic box, but his cross is blocked by Lustig as the Bhoys clear the ball away to safety. Play ends with a foul on the goalscorer Edouard by Pongracic.
4'
Salzburg look stunned by conceding so early on in the game, and it is the travelling support who are making all the noise in the Red Bull Arena.
2'
O. Édouard has scored a goal for Celtic! Assist by C. McGregor.
It was McGregor’s hopeful punt that set Edouard on his way, whose lightning speed and brute strength proved key in bagging Celtic’s opener.
EDOUARD SCORES! Celtic grab a surprise early lead as a long ball upfield falls to Edouard, who outmuscles Ramalho and takes it beautifully across Walke and into the corner. A fantastic start for the Bhoys, as they go 1-0 up after just two minutes played!
1'
Referee Serhii Boiko blows his whistle, and we’re now underway at the Red Bull Arena!
Boyata fails to deal with a loose ball, and a quick Salzburg attack ends with a shot from distance from Haidara which goes wide to the right of Gordon.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of this Europa League Group B meeting between Red Bull Salzburg and Celtic at the Red Bull Arena!
It comes as no surprise that Salzburg are flying high at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga after starting their domestic campaign on a nine-match unbeaten run, and are already seven points clear of their closest challengers. The hosts will see this fixture as a great chance to further rubber-stamp their continental credentials as dark horses for the competition having reached the semi-finals last season before an extra-time Marseille winner dashed their hopes of a second European final since 1994.
In stark contrast, the away side are languishing in fifth place in the Scottish Premiership, level on points with Kilmarnock having already lost twice in their opening seven matches - their worst start to a league campaign for 20 years. Despite their historically superior European pedigree, Celtic have not managed to beat an Austrian team on their turf in five attempts, and they will have to do extremely well to upset the odds and come away from the Red Bull Arena with three points.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how both sides line up.
SALZBURG XI (4-4-2): Alexander Walke; Stefan Lainer, Andre Ramalho, Marin Pongracic, Andreas Ulmer (c); Amadou Haidara, Diadie Samassekou, Hannes Wolf, Xaver Schlager; Takumi Minamino, Munas Dabbur.
SUBSTITUTES: Cican Stankovic, Jasper van der Werff, Zlatko Junuzovic, Darko Todorovic, Reinhold Yabo, Smail Prevljak, Fredrik Gulbrandsen.
CELTIC XI (4-4-2): Craig Gordon; Mikael Lustig, Dedryck Boyata, Jack Hendry, Kieran Tierney (c); James Forrest, Youssouf Mulumbu, Olivier Ntcham, Callum McGregor; Leigh Griffiths, Odsonne Edouard.
SUBSTITUTES: Scott Bain, Jozo Simunovic, Scott Sinclair, Ryan Christie, Emilio Izaguirre, Cristian Gamboa, Lewis Morgan.
The players are out and kick-off is drawing near as the both crowds ramp up the noise.
Marco Rose makes just one change from the side which nicked a last-gasp win against RB Leipzig, with Yabo making way for Minamino up front. Dabbur is the obvious danger for Celtic, with nine goals in all competitions so far - including a brace in their 4-1 league win against AC Wolfsberger over the weekend.
Despite their unsurprising dominance of play and possession, Salzburg have failed to provide the finishing touches to their constant attacks as they trail behind to a second-minute Edouard goal. Not only do Rose’s charges have to improve on their set-piece delivery - which has been woeful at times - but they would need to capitalise on the gaps in space Celtic have been leaving behind since their opener. Though their chief threat in Dabbur has been quiet, Minamino’s constant runs behind Boyata and Hendry and Schlager’s pace will be vital for the home side as they look to come out of the blocks after the interval.
On the other hand, Rodgers will be pleased with his Bhoys for grabbing that all-important away lead and holding on to it before the break. Celtic, and their defence in particular, will have to maintain their concentration levels if they do not want to concede to a Salzburg side who will be more of a threat as the match goes on. If all goes well for Rodgers and company, this looks to have all the hallmarks of another European smash-and-grab away from home.
After conceding so early on in the match, Salzburg did extremely well to come back from behind and score thrice after coming out of the tunnel with an intent to attack the increasingly fragile Celtic backline. Dabbur continues his impressive run of goalscoring form, notching a brace including a smoothly converted penalty, and Minamino provided a near-perfect display of selfless centre-forward play as the away defence did not know how to deal with his darting runs at times. A deserved win for the Europa League dark horses, as they gain a stranglehold on Group B with maximum points from their opening two matches.
As for Celtic, this looked to have been their most difficult Europa League group stage fixture on paper, and the subsequent 90 minutes proved it as they failed to hold on to a delicate lead away from home. Rodgers will be disappointed at having surrendered so meekly after half-time, and once Minamino scored Salzburg’s second of the match, the away side looked lost and nervous out on the pitch well before Forrest’s red card which put the result well beyond doubt. The Bhoys are now level with Leipzig in Group B on three points, and they will depart the Red Bull Arena having once again failed to gain a win on Austrian soil.
And that wraps up our coverage of an exciting clash at the Red Bull Arena. We hope you enjoyed our commentary, and until next time, goodbye!
Brendan Rodgers sticks to his pre-match comments and decides not to risk skipper Scott Brown, who sat out yesterday’s training session with a hamstring issue despite playing in their 1-0 league win against Aberdeen on Saturday. In comes Scotland international forward Griffiths, who partners Edouard up front. Rodgers also makes two other changes from the team that snatched a late 1-0 victory against Rosenborg in Glasgow, with Mulumbu and Hendry replacing Rogic and the injured Filip Benkovic in their respective positions.
Commentary
More…