RB Leipzig vs Celtic LIVE: Champions League result, score and reaction as Silva scores twice as Leipzig win
RB Leipzig 3-1 Celtic: Bhoys drops to the bottom of Champions League Group F with defeat in Germany
RB Leipzig earned their first Champions League points this season after a quickfire double from Andre Silva and Christopher Nkunku’s first-half strike sealed a 3-1 home win over Celtic.
Nkunku twice raced clear to find the net - his first attempt was ruled a fraction offside after a VAR check but the Frenchman made amends in the 27th minute, poking the ball past the advancing Joe Hart and slotting home from a tight angle.
The visitors got off to the perfect start in the second half, drawing level after two minutes when Furuhashi held off three Leipzig defenders before laying the ball off to Jota who scored with a composed finish.
Celtic got another reprieve from VAR when Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb long-range effort was ruled out just after the hour mark but Silva capitalised on a poor pass from goalkeeper Hart seconds later to restore Leipzig’s lead. Silva calmly fired past Hart again in the 77th minute after Celtic were undone by a long diagonal pass from Nkunku, which Mohamed Simakan met with a cushioned volley to the Portuguese striker.
Relive all the action as Celtic lose to RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stages:
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-0 Celtic (Nkunku, 27’)⚽️
27 mins: Leipzig lead! This one will definitely stand too.
A Celtic corner resulting from Kyogo’s deflected shot is won and cleared by the home side who throw men forward in the counter-attack.
There’s four attackers over-running Celtic’s defence and they play the ball to Christopher Nkunku. He runs into the left side of the box, shifts the ball away from Joe Hart then squeezes it into the back of the net from a tight angle.
Lovely finish.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
26 mins: Close! Kyogo Furuhasi very nearly gives Celtic the lead after receiving the ball just outside the box. He shifts it inside and shoots but a slight deflection takes the ball wide of the left-hand post!
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
23 mins: Save! A fantastic move from Celtic sees them work the ball over to the right side of the pitch before it’s played down the wing for Daizen Maeda.
He whips in an early cross and perfectly picks out Kyogo Furuhashi who powers a header at goal and forces Janis Blaswich into a leaping save to his left!
NO GOAL! RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
19 mins: Reprieve for Celtic as the replays show that Nkunku started his run too soon and just strayed offside. The goal is chalked off and Celtic are gifted a lifeline.
Can they make use of it?
GOAL! RB Leipzig 1-0 Celtic (Nkunku, 18’)⚽️
18 mins: RB Leipzig strike first! The home side work the ball over to the right wing where Mohamed Simakan sweeps up the pitch. He curls a pass around the back of the Celtic defence and plays in Christopher Nkunku.
Joe Hart charges off his line but Nkunku keeps his composure and lifts the ball over to goalkeeper to send the German ahead.
But was he offside? There’s a VAR check going on...
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
15 mins: Yeah, the RB Leipzig goalkeeper and captain is taken off the pitch with Janis Blaswich replacing him. That’s a big blow early on for the home side.
When play restarts there’s a few battles in the middle of the pitch with neither side managing to get on top of the other.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
12 mins: Peter Gulasci is panicked after a blind pass back leaves him chasing after the ball. He manages to clear it but twists his knee as he boots the ball away.
Afterwards he stays down and isn’t going to be able to continue. The physios have called for a stretcher.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
9 mins: Stephen Welsh fouls Andre Silva after Mortiz Jenz gives the ball away cheaply.
Leipzig attempt to play on a feed Timo Werner into the box but Joe Hart is quick to respond and scoops up the ball. The referee then pulls plays back as Leipzig didn’t get any advantage.
The resultant free kick is then taken by Dominik Szoboszlai who belts his effort straight into the wall.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
6 mins: End to end stuff here! Celtic work the ball nicely into the Leipzig box and there’s a mad scramble that ends with the home side booting the ball clear.
Jota then wins it high up the pitch and cuts inside onto his right-foot. He shoots but a deflection takes all the sting out of the effort and the ball loops kindly to Gulacsi.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Celtic
3 mins: Chances! Christopher Nkunku has started brilliantly for Leipzig. The home side first catch Celtic on the break and send the forward in on goal. His effort is stopped before a rebound lands in the safe hands of Joe Hart.
Less than a minute later Leipzig fly down the right wing and whip a low cross into the six-yard area where Nkunku darts in front of Mortiz Jenz and turns his effort wide of the near post.
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