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Jane Barlow
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Celtic v Manchester City, Champions League

Brendan Rodgers’ side welcomed City to Parkhead.

Good evening folks and welcome along to our live coverage of tonight’s Champions League clash between Celtic and Manchester City. It promises to be a memorable European night under the lights at Parkhead and we’ll have all the action here from 7.45pm.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, makes three changes to his side from Saturday’s win at Swansea. Zabaleta, Clichy and Nolito all come in.

Rain has been falling in Glasgow for most of the day but even the weather won’t but a dampener on this occasion, with a full house expected tonight.

Celtic v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Celtic Park Craig Watson Craig Watson

Celtic v Kilmarnock - Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Not many are giving Celtic any chance tonight, particularly after they leaked seven at the Nou Camp in their first Group C outing.

It’s a busy night of football around Europe with no fewer than eight Champion League ties down for decision.

Group A

  • Arsenal v Basel
  • Ludogorets v PSG

Group B

  • Besiktas v Dynamo Kiev
  • Napoli v Benfica

Group C

  • Borussia Moenchengladbach v Barcelona
  • Celtic v Man City

Group D

  • Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich
  • Rostov v PSV Eindhoven

The teams are out and we’re just minutes away from kick-off. The atmosphere is absolutely electric. There is nowhere quite like Celtic Park on nights like this.

Kick-off! The home side get us underway.

GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Man City (Dembele)

Oh my word, what a start! A free-kick is floated towards James Forrest on the back-post, who cushions it back across. Sviatchenko is unmarked and is diving header is deflected in by Dembele.

Save! City are all over the place. Sinclair swings in another set-piece and it falls for Toure in the box. The defender looks to swivel but Clichy diverts it towards his own goal only for Bravo to parry behind.

Celtic are rampant at the minute. Otamendi bundles Forrest over and the hosts have another free-kick on the edge of the area. Pep Guardiola is on the edge of his touchline waving his hands frantically.

City have yet to get their foot on the ball. We’ve played eight minutes and Celtic have dominated the early exchanges.

Sinclair is causing all sorts of problems as he breezes past Zabaleta. His delightful cross falls at the feet of Rogic but he’s just crowded out.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal lead Basel through Theo Walcott’s early goal. It remains scoreless in the other six games.

But there’s the danger! City cut through and Gordon is forced to come quickly off his line to thwart Silva. The visitors starting to apply the pressure.

GOAL! Celtic 1-1 Man City (Fernandinho) 

The lead lasted just five minutes. Celtic couldn’t clear their lines and Kolarov’s shot fell kindly for Fernandinho, who fired it low past Gordon. It wasn’t the cleanest of finishes but it matters little.

Close! Celtic’s turn to go close. Rogic’s low free-kick skims just past Bravo’s post.

Celtic have already had six attempts on goal and look dangerous every time they venture forward. A brilliant start from Rodgers’ side but they didn’t exactly do themselves any favours at the other end.

Celtic v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Celtic Park Jane Barlow Jane Barlow

GOAL! Celtic 2-1 Man City (Tierney)

Celtic are back in front! Brilliant break sees Tierney played in down the left. The full-back is looking to pull the ball back across but it takes a nick off the unfortunate Sterling and deflects past Bravo at the front post.

Absolutely superb from Celtic to bounce back from that setback but City are so vulnerable defensively. Zabaleta found himself in no man’s land on that occasion, allowing Tierney to just ghost in unmarked.

City looking for another instant reply and they very nearly get it but Sterling’s cross and then Aguero’s header come to nothing.

Another goal for Arsenal and another one for Walcott. The Gunners lead Basel 2-0 at the Emirates.

GOAL! Celtic 2-2 Man City (Sterling)

Lightning strikes twice. Silva with an exquisite ball through and Sterling shows great composure to apply the finish after making the run from wide.

Celtic v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Celtic Park Jane Barlow Jane Barlow

An enthralling half an hour of Champions League football which has produced four goals and plenty of drama. Celtic looking to get their foot on the ball and regain a little bit of control in this game after City hit back for the second time.

You can’t keep your eyes off this one. End-to-end since the first minute with Lustig the latest to have a sight of goal, but his looping header didn’t trouble Bravo.

City beginning to take a stranglehold of proceedings but Celtic standing firm in defence. The hosts will be desperate to get through to the break on level terms after what has been a superb showing from Rodgers’ side so far.

HALF-TIME! Celtic 2-2 Man City

What a cracking half of football. Celtic took the game to City and they were rewarded inside three minutes. The visitors, to their credit, responded well and were soon level through Fernandinho before Raheem Sterling scored at both ends to see us through to half-time all-square.

Celtic v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Celtic Park Jane Barlow Jane Barlow

All set for the second-half. No changes for either side.

Miss any of the first-half action? All the goals can be watched right here.

GOAL! Celtic 3-2 Man City (Dembele)

Celtic are at it again! Tierney swings in a low cross and Kolarov should clear his lines but makes a mess of the clearance and Dembele does brilliantly to hook it into the corner. What a start to the second half!

That was so poor from Kolarov. He got himself in a complete muddle and in the end the ball went through his legs for Dembele to fire Celtic back into the lead. What a game.

This is dangerous for Celtic. Silva and Gundogan standing over a free-kick right on the edge of the area.

But Gordon does well to get down low to his left and push Gundogan’s strike behind. City pushing for an equaliser.

GOAL! Celtic 3-3 Man City (Nolito) 

Silva is the architect again as he feeds Aguero. The striker forces Gordon into another smart stop but it falls perfectly for Nolito to slot home from close range.

It’s been a classic — and there’s still 35 minutes left.

Celtic v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Celtic Park Jane Barlow Jane Barlow

First change for Celtic as Stuart Armstrong is introduced for Tom Rogic.

City beginning to ask more and more questions of the Celtic defence. Guardiola’s side have dominated the last 10 minutes and look the more likely with a little under half an hour remaining.

John Stones is coming on for Gael Clichy as we head into the final quarter of this game. It’s just settled down for the first time.

Another change for City as Nolito makes way for Fernando.

Only 10 minutes remaining as James Forrest is replaced by Patrick Roberts. Leigh Griffiths is also preparing to come on.

Close! Fernandinho is allowed to run at the Celtic defence and he unleashes a fierce drive, which just soars over the bar. That was mighty close.

Meanwhile, Griffiths is on. Is there a winner in this one?

After such a blistering 70 minutes to this game, the last quarter of an hour has been a bit of a go-slow with Celtic appearing to run out of steam. City pushing for a winner as we head towards the 90 minute mark.

Celtic are really on the back foot now. The home supporting attempting to see their side through to a memorable point.

Nolito celebrating his equaliser.

Celtic v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League - Group C - Celtic Park Craig Watson Craig Watson

Save! Celtic are really holding on now. The space opens up for Gundogan and Gordon is forced into a fine, fine stop to keep his side level.

Three minutes of added time.

Toure heads over from under his own bar and City pile forward.

FULL-TIME! Celtic 3-3 Man City

What a night at Parkhead! A stellar performance from Celtic and it produced a hugely entertaining Champions League tie which yielded six goals and its fair share of drama.

We’ll have a full report on the site shortly, plus a round-up from all of tonight’s other games. Until then, thanks for joining us!

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