Advertisement
Different Class

Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani too hot for Celtic as PSG run riot

Celtic could find themselves in hot water after a fan ran onto the pitch and approached Mbappe.

EDINSON CAVANI, KYLIAN Mbappe and Neymar all found the net as Paris Saint-Germain inflicted Celtic’s heaviest ever home defeat in Europe by racking up a 5-0 scoreline at Parkhead.

PSG’s star-studded forward line tore the Scottish champions apart to not only maintain their perfect start to the new season but also send out a warning to their Champions League rivals.

Celtic v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League - Group B - Celtic Park Neymar celebrates his opening goal. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

And Celtic could find themselves in hot water after a home supporter ran onto the field and allegedly attempted to kick Mbappe before being escorted off by police and stewards.

Playing in the competition for the first time since his world-record transfer from Barcelona, Neymar raced onto Adrien Rabiot’s throughball to give the dominant French side a deserved lead in the 19th minute of the Group B contest.

The scorer turned provider for PSG’s second, heading back across goal for Mbappe to find the net for the sixth time in his last seven Champions League games, the previous five coming in last season’s knockout stages for Monaco.

Cavani converted a 40th-minute penalty to make it 3-0 and, in the process, become his club’s leading scorer in European competitions, his 21st goal moving him ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the all-time list.

The Uruguayan added another to his tally with a header in the 85th minute after Celtic’s Mikael Lustig had presented PSG with a fourth by turning a Julian Draxler cross into his own net.

Despite a raucous home crowd doing their best to rouse their players prior to kick-off, Brendan Rodgers’ side spent much of the opening 45 minutes chasing after PSG’s collection of superstars.

Dominant from the outset, PSG took the lead when Neymar escaped teenage full-back Anthony Ralston and fired beyond the advancing Craig Gordon, giving him his fifth goal in as many matches for his new club.

Celtic v Paris Saint Germain - UEFA Champions League - Group B - Celtic Park A Celtic fan ran onto the field and allegedly attempted to kick Mbappe. Andrew Milligan Andrew Milligan

By that stage, PSG had already seen a goal ruled out for offside, Cavani the player denied as he was adjudged to be fractionally beyond the last defender when turning in Layvin Kurzawa’s cross.

The striker then fluffed his lines when Neymar’s unselfish header gifted him a glorious opportunity from six yards out, although Mbappe capitalised on his team-mate’s profligacy to smash a rising shot high into the Celtic net.

Cavani did, however, get his landmark goal before the break, converting from the spot after he had been pulled back by defender Jozo Simunovic as they battled to reach a cross.

Leigh Griffiths’ free-kick and a low drive from Scott Sinclair kept PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on his toes before the interval, while the former fluffed a glorious chance to score from Kieran Tierney’s cross in the opening minutes of a second half played at a much more sedate pace.

Ralston raised the noise levels inside Celtic Park when he followed a rampaging run with a hefty challenge on Thiago Motta, the 18-year-old responding to the booking from referee Daniele Orsato by raising his fists in defiance to his supporters.

Celtic v Paris Saint Germain - UEFA Champions League - Group B - Celtic Park It was Celtic's heaviest home defeat in the competition. Andrew Milligan Andrew Milligan

Yet Celtic’s hope of at least holding PSG scoreless in the second half disappeared when Lustig had the misfortune of deflecting Draxler’s driven ball from the right into his own goal.

It was fitting that Cavani completed the rout when he acrobatically headed in Kurzawa’s cross at the back post, as PSG wrapped up an emphatic win on the road. Next up in Europe: Bayern Munich at home.

In the group’s other game, Bayern made light work of Anderlecht as they eased to a 3-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

Robert Lewandowski, Thiago and Joshua Kimmich were all on target for the Bundesliga champions after Sven Kums had been sent off for the visitors in the 11th minute.

Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:

It took him a while but Lionel Messi finally conjured a significant goal tonight and it was a gem

Did he mean it? Zappacosta scores stunning goal on his Champions League debut

Your Voice
Readers Comments
26
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel