2017-09-12: Celtic 0-5 Paris St Germain, European Cup

Twelve months after suffering their biggest loss in any continental fixture when they were crushed 7-0 by Barcelona in the Nou Camp at the same stage last season, the Scottish champions were put to the sword on their own patch by big-spending Paris Saint-Germain.

The Qatar-owned French club’s £420 million strike force of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani all scored to kill the contest before half-time before an own goal from Mikael Lustig and Cavani’s second of the night added further misery for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

The gap between their domestic invincibility and competing credibly with Europe’s current elite has never appeared more difficult to bridge. Already, this Group B campaign for Celtic looks like boiling down to a battle for third place with Anderlecht who lost at Bayern Munich. To compound Celtic’s dismay last night, they also face fresh Uefa disciplinary action after a supporter invaded the pitch and attempted to kick Mbappe.

In seeking a solution to the considerable problem posed by PSG’s potent attacking triumvirate, Rodgers took the bold decision to hand Anthony Ralston his first European starting appearance for the club.

The 18-year-old’s inclusion at right-back allowed Lustig to join Jozo Simunovic in central defence. It was a set of circumstances which underlined the consequences of Celtic’s lack of success in pursuing reinforcements for that department of the squad during the summer transfer window.

Before PSG fully hit their stride in such emphatic style, Ralston made an encouraging enough start to the contest. The teenager certainly didn’t appear overawed by the occasion as he made a some solid interceptions and also showed the physical aspect of his game with a couple of robust challenges on Neymar, the second of which earned him a ‘no more’ signal from the Italian referee.

While the visitors dominated possession from the off, it was Celtic who posted the first attempt on goal. Counter-attack was the key to any hopes they had of upsetting the odds and one such raid saw Olivier Ntcham drag a shot narrowly wide after 10 minutes when a pass to the unmarked Patrick Roberts on his right might have been a wiser choice.

PSG were soon camping in and around Celtic’s defensive third of the pitch, however, and Cavani provided the first warning sign of what was to come when his 15th minute tap-in from Layvin Kurzawa’s cross was ruled offside.

The Uruguyan front man then stung Craig Gordon’s palms with a powerful 20 yard volley as PSG looked to move through the gears. Their opener arrived in the 19th minute, albeit not without an element of controversy.

Celtic were incensed at the referee’s failure to award them a free-kick for Thiago Motta’s challenge on Scott Sinclair in the build-up. That said, Celtic were subsequently collaboraters in their own downfall as Leigh Griffiths cheaply conceded possession and PSG swept forward with Adrien Rabiot’s through ball finding Neymar stealing a yard on Ralston before lofting an assured finish beyond Gordon from around 10 yards.

Griffiths almost delivered a spectacular and rapid response for the hosts when he lined up a free-kick all of 35 yards out after Roberts’ weaving run was illegally halted by Marco Verratti. There were echoes of the striker’s set piece double against England in June as he curled in a brilliant left foot effort which prompted an equally impressive one-handed save from Alphonse Areola.

They were the kind of moments which had to go Celtic’s way if they were to retain any prospect of a recovery. Instead, PSG tightened their grip on proceedings when they doubled their lead in the 34th minute.

Verratti’s cross from the right was headed back across goal by Neymar, dropping into the path of Cavani who missed the ball completely with a fresh air swipe. The Celtic defence were not quick enough to react and Mbappe pounced to drive a shot high into the net.

Celtic were struggling to retain any worthwhile possession, while also expending huge energy in attempting to close down their technically superior opponents. The last thing Rodgers’ side required was the needless concession of a third goal before half-time but that was exactly the situation Simunovic put them in. A cross from Kurazawa was harmlessly over-shooting the penalty area when the big Bosnian inexplicably pulled back Cavani right in front of the referee who immediately pointed to the spot. Simunovic was also booked for his trouble before Cavani swept the penalty kick imperiously beyond Gordon.

It was too much to take for one moronic home supporter who found a route through the stewards, running onto the pitch and managing to aim a kick at Mbappe before he was restrained and removed.

Sinclair forced a decent save from Areola in first half stoppage time but it had been a chastening opening 45 minutes for Celtic.

Rodgers made a change at the start of the second half, the ineffective Stuart Armstrong staying in the dressing room as he was replaced by Tom Rogic. The home crowd were roused by a more vibrant approach from their side who managed to force themselves onto the front foot for a spell.

Their persistence was admirable with first Ralston and then Sinclair coming close to pulling a goal back before their respective efforts were smothered. There remained a constant sense, however, that PSG could re-impose themselves whenever they wished and Neymar missed a clear chance to increase the lead when he blazed a shot over after a dazzling five-man, one-touch passing move.

The little Brazilian’s late booking for taking a dive under a Lustig challenge at least allowed the Celtic fans to express some enjoyment at his expense as they produced one of their loudest cheers of a night.

They were subdued by the finale to the match, however, as first Lustig diverted a cross from substitute Julian Draxler into his own net before Cavani’s looping header completed the unwelcome record scoreline.

Neymar the pantomime villain torments Celtic once again
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For Celtic manager Rodgers, the next Group B fixture against Anderlecht – who lost 3-0 at Bayern Munich last night – in Brussels on 27 September is already shaping up as crucial to their hopes of further progress in Europe.

Rodgers disregarded the final scoreline last night and focused on his unhappiness with his players’ approach in the opening 45 minutes.

“I’m not worried about records,” said Rodgers. “Tonight we were playing against world-class opponents, but in the second half – it’s always easy to play at 0-3, I want them to start like that.

“We were playing like under-12s at times. But I don’t want to be too harsh on my players. PSG are two or three levels beyond us. If we get better we can achieve the main aim, which is European football after Christmas.

“We could have been better in the first half, we were too passive, didn’t press well enough and stood off. In the first half-hour of the second half, we were much better but you can always concede against players of that quality. It’s a phenomenal squad that Paris have but I was proud of the players in the second half and the supporters were terrific, they kept encouraging us.

“At this level you have to make the ball work, and you have to have that belief.

“We were much better in the second half, we had a couple of wee moments in the final third, but you have to give Paris credit. They showed why they’re going to be up there to win this competition. It’s a tough lesson, a harsh lesson for us. This is a level which is all about learning for us, and tonight we’ll learn from that.”

Rodgers also expressed his dismay at the pitch invader, who was loudly jeered by the rest of the Celtic support.

“The reaction [of the rest of the fans] said it all,” said Rodgers. “It’s disappointing at any ground when a fan gets onto the pitch. I’m sure the club will deal with that. It’s not something we should see.”

Journalists at Celtic Park for the game reported seeing the fan lash out at the 18-year-old French youngster shortly after Edison Cavani scored a penalty to put PSG 3-0 up.

Mbappe, who is considered one of European football’s top talents, moved to the big-spending Parisian club in the summer on an initial loan deal from rivals Monaco, who helped win the French League last year.

Darryl Currie, who was covering the game for BT Sport, appeared to confirm the incident in his half-time analysis, claiming that fans near the one who allegedly confronted Mbappe were furious.

Booing was heard as the fan was led away by stewards and police.

The incident, which occurred when Celtic were 3-0 down to the French side in their Champions League Group B opener, was not captured live by TV cameras at Celtic Park.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had already suffered a bad night at the office, after goals from Mbappe, Cavani, and the world’s most expensive player Neymar, had put PSG in the driving seat.

Celtic have not had their problems to seek with UEFA, being fined almost £250,000 by the governing body in just ten years, for a variety of offences during European games.

A fan is led off after running on the pitch and allegedly confronting Kylian Mbappe. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
A fan is led off after running on the pitch and allegedly confronting Kylian Mbappe. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA WireThe club’s most recent run-in with UEFA’s Disciplinary Body saw them paying over £20,000 after the display of a paramilitary style banner in their qualifier against Northern Irish club Linfield.

The previous fines, which have often been a result of actions by the club’s controversial supporters group the Green Brigade, range from political banners to the use of pyrotechnics.

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

The world's most expensive player coolly finished and then had a hand in PSG's second, which was finished emphatically by Kylian Mbappe.

Edinson Cavani converted a penalty for the visitors' third before the break.

Mikael Lustig's own goal was followed by Cavani's second of the night, a superb diving header.

Elsewhere in Group B, hosts Bayern Munich won 3-0 against Anderlecht, who had a man sent off.

Celtic players

Celtic could not find a way to contain their visitors

Celtic have hosted many of the great powerhouses of European football over the years, but even those with the longest memories would probably struggle to recall a side as devastating as PSG.

Their speed of thought, speed of movement, accuracy and imagination was extraordinary. Their confidence on the ball – even when playing intricate passes in their own penalty area to get out of trouble – was a joy.

Quality on this scale costs, of course. The biggest compliment you can pay the visitors is they looked every inch the half-billion-pound team they are.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers went with young Tony Ralston at right-back with Lustig playing centre-half. Ralston was keen as mustard, biting into tackles on Neymar, but this was a night when enthusiasm and heart were not much use to Celtic.

Unai Emery's visitors had the ball in the net after 15 minutes but Cavani was offside. It was a warning to Celtic, not that it was needed. The subtlety of PSG's play was not something they could cope with. Soon, the doors started opening for the visitors.

Celtic had legitimate gripes about a foul on Scott Sinclair moments earlier, but when PSG countered it was precise and beautiful. Adrien Rabiot, relatively unsung in this team of stars but sensationally good on the night, played Neymar in behind Ralston and the Brazilian thumped his shot past Craig Gordon.

Kylian Mbappe scores for Paris St-Germain against Celtic

Mbappe (right) followed Neymar in scoring his first Champions League goal for PSG

There were less than 20 minutes on the clock and all sorts of trouble was heading Celtic's way. They actually had some moments of optimism before PSG's second, Leigh Griffiths forcing a save from Alphonse Areola with a free-kick.

This modicum of Celtic hope was soon batted away. It was as if PSG were telling them that if they had the temerity to come out and attack there might be a heavy price to pay for it at the other end.

It was a moronic moment, an incident that governing body Uefa, correctly, will investigate. Heavy punishment is coming Celtic's way, that's a guarantee

The second came, Neymar at the heart of it again, of course. It was he who started the move and when Marco Verratti put in a cross from the right, it was Neymar who made the run – Celtic had not a notion where he was – and then nodded across goal. Cavani had a fresh-air swipe but lurking behind him was Mbappe, who thumped in the second.

A goal apiece for PSG's monster summer signings – and then a third for their principal goalscorer, Cavani. It was painfully soft from Celtic's perspective. A cross from Neymar, a push by Jozo Simunovic on Cavani and a penalty duly rifled home by the Uruguay striker.

The Celtic fans who were not open-mouthed at PSG's class by now were covering their eyes at the thought of what might happen next. They had no idea that the next moment would be so shocking – and, inevitably, so damaging.

A spectator ran on to the pitch, was allowed to make his way towards Mbappe and then appeared to aim a kick at the winger. Celtic fans booed him, but the damage was done.

Edinson Cavani scores a penalty for Paris St-Germain against Celtic

Cavani's penalty before half-time effectively ended the match as a contest

It was a moronic moment, an incident that governing body Uefa, correctly, will investigate. Heavy punishment is coming Celtic's way, that is a guarantee.

Rodgers brought on Tom Rogic for Stuart Armstrong at the break and, at last, Celtic got some respite. Griffiths should have done better with a header, Ralston had a fine run and Sinclair had a shot saved by Areola.

PSG, in truth, were in relaxed mood through all of this. When they decided to get busy again they came close to adding more goals.

Neymar

Neymar missed two excellent chances before Rabiot's replacement Julian Draxler bamboozled Sinclair and crossed only for the unlucky Lustig to turn it into his own net.

Cavani's magnificent angled header across goal and into Gordon's net made it five.

A historic thumping against the super-rich, lavishly brilliant visitors, a team that will, surely, make a major assault on Real Madrid's grip on the Champions League trophy.

Match stats – PSG scorers make their mark

Edinson Cavani scores for Paris St-Germain against Celtic