home comforts as celtic finish on a high

David Friel
CELTIC maintained their proud home record in the UEFA Champions League as they rounded off this season’s campaign with a stylish 2-0 win over Villarreal.

Under Gordon Strachan, the Hoops have never lost a home group stage game in European football’s top tournament. Goals from Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady ensured that remains the case, with the record now standing at seven wins and two draws from nine matches.

This was a thoroughly merited win for Celtic against one of the top teams in Spain, Granted, the La Liga side played for 55 minutes with 10 men after Guille Franco was sent off, but Celtic showed once again that they can compete at this level.

In the grand scheme of things, only pride was at stake. Villarreal had already qualified for the last 16 before a ball was kicked, while Celtic knew that their European campaign would cease at the final whistle.

Yet, the Hoops supporters who turned up at Paradise were there to be entertained and were happy to learn that McGeady was in the starting line-up for the first time since late October.

The winger, making his return from a knee injury, joined Shunsuke Nakamura and Maloney in an attacking side. Georgios Samaras was chosen to spearhead the attack, while defender Gary Caldwell made his 100th Celtic appearance.

The atmosphere inside Celtic Park before kick-off was a bit more subdued than usual for this type of occasion but it picked up as the Hoops began brightly. A surging Scott Brown run and cross almost resulted in a chance for Samaras before Maloney’s swerving shot was saved by Sebastian Viera.

Villarreal’s first half-chance came in five minutes when Franco found some space in the box. Artur Boruc saved well from his low effort. Ariel Ibagaza also sent a shot over the bar under pressure from Andreas Hinkel.

The visitors threatened again through the dangerous Mati Fernandez before Celtic took the lead in 14 minutes with a wonderful team goal.

Nakamura, McGeady and Brown were all involved in a patient passing move on the left flank that allowed the overlapping Mark Wilson to send over a dangerous cross. When Viera flapped, Maloney was there to nod over the line from close range.

Caldwell produced a brave block to deny Fernandez as Villarreal looked for an instant response, yet Celtic were knocking the ball about with intent and Samaras was inches away from connecting with a Maloney cross in 21 minutes.

McGeady, taking a Maloney flick in his stride, flashed a low drive wide as Celtic continued to play with confidence. The winger then linked with the outstanding Brown to create a chance for Samaras, whose flicked shot flew over the bar.

The game was being played in a sporting manner but that changed 10 minutes before the break when Franco was sent off for violent conduct after aiming a loose hand at Caldwell

Villarreal’s players were incensed by the decision and captain Marcos Senna then picked up a deserved booking for a rash lunge at Paul Hartley. Minutes later, the same player upended Samaras but escaped punishment.

However, Villarreal wouldn’t get off so lightly, with McGeady making it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time. It was a stunning strike by the winger. Picking up a Brown pass on the half-way line, he ran at the Villarreal defence from deep and smashed a 20-yard daisy-cutter into the corner.

Senna was taken off at half-time, possibly to avoid an inevitable red card, and Villarreal introduced Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci. His first contribution was a speculative 25-yard shot that Boruc easily saved.

Angel Lopez was booked for a hack at McGeady as Celtic looked for a third. Villarreal weren’t sitting back though and Kahveci volleyed narrowly wide in 56 minutes.

The 10 men of Villarreal were leaving little space for Celtic to explore but some of the Hoops’ stuff was a joy to watch. McGeady was immense on his return, while Brown covered every blade of grass. Nakamura’s touches were sublime.

A word too, for Boruc. The big Pole came in for heavy criticism after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat against Hibernian, but was in top form against the Spaniards. One second-half save from Kahveci was outstanding.

Paul McGowan, replacing McGeady, came on for his European debut. Scott McDonald and Darren O’Dea also entered the fray as Celtic bowed out of Europe with a deserved win.

UEFA Champions League – Group E
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…2
(Maloney 14, McGeady 45)
VILLARREAL…0

CELTIC: Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (O’Dea 81); Nakamura, S.Brown, Hartley, McGeady (McGowan 75), Maloney; Samaras (McDonald 81)
Subs not used: M.Brown, Loovens, Caddis, Mizuno

VILLARREAL: Viera, Rodriguez, Edmilson, Lopez, Fuentes; Cani, Ibagaza (Cazorla 61), Senna (Kahveci 46), Bruno; Franco, Fernandez
Subs not used: Lopez, Eguren, Pires, Cygan

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Scott Brown