B Bhoys fall to defeat in Madrid | OneFootball

UEFA Youth LeagueTuesday, November 07, 2023Centro Deportivo Alcalá de Henares, Madrid

Atletico Madrid… 4

(Belid 16, 26, 63 Nino 61)

Celtic… 0

Celtic FC B suffered defeat on matchday four of the UEFA Youth League as Atletico Madrid ran out 4-0 winners on Tuesday afternoon.

After following two goals behind inside half-an-hour, the Celts pushed to try and find a way back into the game, striking the post late in the first-half.

However, a quick-fire second-half double from the home side inflicted defeat upon the Hoops in the Spanish capital.

As the Bhoys kicked-off in Madrid, they were looking to pick up their first three points of the UEFA Youth League.

Following on from two comprehensive league victories, and a positive display in the last meeting between the sides, the Celts aimed to bounce back.

During the opening 45 minutes, Celtic’s press looked to be effective as they attempted to stop the home side from playing and trying to win the ball back high up the pitch.

The Hoops had one of the first openings of the match after Rocco Vata was unlucky to see his shot blocked.

Starting the move, the young Irishman did brilliantly to get up the pitch and find his strike partner Dobbie. The ball eventually made its way back to Vata, but the home side recovered well.

Unfortunately for the young Celts, just moments later, Fernando Torres’s side managed to open the scoring on the 16-minute mark.

Grabbing his first of three goals in the game, forward Rayane Belid was first to react to a loose ball in the area, smashing home into the back of the net.

Just before the hour mark, the Spaniard scored his and Atletico’s second, rounding off a well-worked move with a tidy finish off the inside of the post.

After falling behind, the next goal would prove crucial in the match if Celtic wanted to find a way back into proceedings.

And before the break, the Bhoys came close to doing exactly that as Lewis Dobbie struck the post with his effort from inside the area.

Heading into the second-half, the Celts knew they would have to find the way to the goal quickly if they wanted to find a way back in. However, it was Atletico who would ultimately go on, and seal all three points.

Just beyond the hour mark, the young Celtic side conceded two sloppy goals inside two minutes to all but dashed their hopes of a way back into the match.

Although they found themselves behind, the Bhoys continued to try and create more openings and in the final 15 minutes they created a handful of good chances.

Both Rocco Vata and Mackenzie Carse were denied by two great saves from the goalkeeper and substitute Daniel Cummings was within inches of pulling a goal back, but he couldn’t get a touch on Mitchel Frame’s cutback.

Unfortunately for the young Hoops, their fourth match of the group stage ended in defeat on their travels in Madrid.

Following their European outing, the Celts are quickly back in action on Saturday afternoon as they return to league action against Broomhill.

CELTIC: McLean, Dede (Mackenzie 68), Frame, Bonetig (Quinn 68), Agbaire, Robertson, Ure (Thomson 68), Carse, Kelly (Davidson 83), Vata, Dobbie (Cummings 46)

Subs: Rice, Bonnar