Dembélé saves Celtic at Mönchengladbach
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
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A fine volley from captain Lars Stindl looked to have given Borussia Mönchengladbach a crucial Group C win, but Moussa Dembélé's late penalty salvaged a point for Celtic.
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A Moussa Dembélé penalty 14 minutes from time earned Celtic a Group C point at Mönchengladbach, who had taken the lead thanks to Lars Stindl's volley.
Just as he had done in Glasgow, Foals captain Stindl broke the deadlock minutes after the hosts had survived a scare at the other end when Scott Sinclair's shot bounced back off the post to safety.
The woodwork at the same end denied André Hahn on 65 minutes, before Julian Korb almost capped a fine passing move with a header that lopped centimetres over. However, the right-back was then sent off for pulling back Dembélé, and the French striker converted from the spot, before Callum McGregor passed up a late chance to win all three points for the visitors.
Key player: Moussa Dembélé (Celtic)
He missed a penalty in Celtic's record 7-0 defeat at Barcelona on matchday one, but the 20-year-old showed great composure to convert at Borussia-Park having earned the spot kick himself. He had announced himself on the big stage with a brace against Manchester City and his profile will have increased further with this showing which keeps Celtic alive in Group C.
Stindl at home in Europe
Forward Stindl has made a habit of saving his best for the European arena in the past 18 months. The 28-year-old's opener was his fifth goal in 11 UEFA Champions League appearances and helped put home fans' nerves at ease after an unusually tense opening half-hour. Dembélé's second-half penalty may have secured Celtic a share of the spoils, yet this was another highly impressive European cameo from the former Hannover 96 skipper.
McGregor's missed opportunity
Much has been made of Celtic's poor away record in the UEFA Champions League group stage, with just one win in 25 matches on their travels. Yet with the group stragglers having clawed themselves back into this one, McGregor squandered a glorious late opportunity to double that list of away victories and register the Hoops' first win on German soil. Such are the fine margins of the competition.
Reporters' views
Matthew Howarth, Mönchengladbach (@UEFAcomMattH)
With Manchester City beating Barcelona, Gladbach will have to produce something extraordinary in their final two games to finish in the top two in this section. However, the aim before the Foals' first encounter with Celtic a fortnight ago was to ensure they remain in European football after the winter break, and the point leaves André Schubert's side on course to achieve that objective.
Alex O'Henley, Celtic (@UEFAcomAlexO)
Brendan Rodgers will be delighted. He said his team had learned from every setback in this campaign and they demonstrated that again, coming back strongly after falling behind. Defeat would have ended any realistic hope of European football beyond Christmas, but this valuable point away from home mean the Hoops really do have something to play for in the final two fixtures against Barcelona and Man. City.
