AaB Aalborg v Celtic Result
2008-09 UEFA Champions League AaB Aalborg- Celtic Report
Eighteen away matches played in the Champions League since 2001. Only one point out of a possible fifty-four gained.
These are the depressing statistics that will greet Celtic FC when they return to Glasgow today from Denmark following their late capitulation against a very limited AaB Aalborg side.
What will be hurting the management, players and supporters more will be the brutal fact that they are now out of all European competitions despite being in total control for most of the match at the Energie Nord Arena.
Late Collapse
With just seventeen minutes remaining Celtic were 1-0 up, thanks to a Barry Robson header, and looked certain to claim third place in the group and its prize of a UEFA Cup spot that would almost certainly have been theirs had they avoided defeat in Denmark.
What was to follow will have had all Celtic's followers shaking their heads in disbelief but with an inevitable sense of deja vu.
When a long range effort from Aalborg's Brazilian midfielder Caca, which took a wicked deflection off Celtic captain Stephen McManus, spiraled over Celtic keeper Artur Boruc into the goal, you had the feeling that this was not going to be the night when Celtic finally secured their 'Holy Grail' of an away win.
This feeling was confirmed in the cruelest of fashions when, with only three minutes remaining, a low cross into the box was forcefully cleared away from goal by Celtic's Dutch defender Glenn Loovens only to rebound off his colleague Gary Caldwell into the net.
Missed Opportunities
While Celtic fans may point out to the high degree of fortune associated with both AaB goals, the fact of the matter is, had they taken any of their clear cut chances they created in the first half then lady luck would not have had any chance to affect the result.
Greek striker Georgios Samaras, on two occasions, and Shunsuke Nakamura both missed gilt edged chances that, at this level, must be converted if progression in Europe is to be achieved.
It was this inability, to convert their superiority on the night into goals, which was to ultimately lead to their failure to secure further European action this season.
Away Day Woes
Celtic's dismal Champions League away form goes back seven years, when a blatant dive from Nicola Amoruso, with only two minutes remaining, and the subsequent converted spot kick, cruelly robbed them off a deserved 2-2 draw with Juventus in Turin.
Since then, managers Martin O' Neill, now with Aston Villa, and Gordon Strachan have each had three campaigns to try and come up with the appropriate prescription to solve Celtic's travel sickness, without success.
Ironically Celtic's only point on the road came four years ago in the biggest arena of them all, the Camp Nou, home of Catalan giants Barcelona, when they gained a highly credible, and unexpected, goalless draw.
Celtic's failure to win in Denmark means that no Scottish side has managed to secure a win in European competition this season despite playing a total of thirteen matches, with Rangers, Motherwell, Queen of the South and Hibernian being the other guilty sides.
Celtic will now focus all their attentions on regaining the Scottish Premier League title, which they currently lead their old firm rivals Rangers by four points, to ensure they get another crack next year at ending their unenviable Champions League away record.
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