Celtic lose out in Europa League opener | OneFootball

UEFA Europa LeagueLeague phase, matchday oneThursday, September 17, 2026Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…1 (Baur 43)

FERENCVAROS…3(Yusuf 19, Zachariassen 45+1, Arzani 47)

Celtic’s UEFA Europa League campaign got off to a disappointing start tonight as they lost 3-1 to Hungarian side, Ferencvaros, at Celtic Park.

Martin O'Neill's side had started the game on the front foot and won their first corner inside the opening 40 seconds, although Ferencvaros dealt well with that set-piece and two subsequent corners inside the opening three minutes.

And on seven minutes, James Forrest did well down the left wing, skipping past the right-back and playing a ball to the near post which Camilo Duran put just wide.

Six minutes later and Forrest again caused problems, driving into the box, but his effort from a tight angle was saved.

In the 17 minute, the Hungarian side fashioned their first real chance through the dangerous Bamidele Yusuf on the right wing, but his cross was headed narrowly over by Kristoffer Zachariassen.

However, two minutes later Ferencvaros did take the lead when Yusuf’s low shot ended up in the back of the net with the aid of a deflection off Liam Scales.

Celtic pushed for a way back into the game, and Forrest and Baur tried to carve open the visitors, while Ferencvaros continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack, with Viljami Sinisalo producing a good save to deny Daniel Arzani.

The equaliser for Celtic came in the 43rd minute following great work down the left. Forrest fed Kieran Tierney who drove into the box and cut it back for Mika Baur to slot the ball home from six yards out.

However, in the one added minute at the end of the half, Ferencvaros restored their lead, with Zachariassen turning the ball into the net from close-range following good work by Yusuf.

Things didn’t get any better for Celtic at the start of the second half when Daniel Arzani produced a stunning finish from outside the area to make it 3-1.

The Hoops had made a formation change at the break, with Kasper Hogh coming on to partner Camilo Duran up front, but they were finding it difficult to break down a resolute Ferencvaros defence.

Celtic’s best chance to reduce the deficit came in the 68 minute when good play from McCowan found Hogh who, in turn, fed the ball to Benjamin Nygren, and his curling effort from the edge of the area went narrowly wide.

Three minutes later, Nygren set up fellow substitute, Sebastian Tounekti who cut in from the left and fired a shot from 18 yards out that was well-saved by the Ferencvaros keeper.

Nygren was again involved moments later when he capitalised on a slack pass from the goalkeeper, but his effort from 25 yards out was again just wide of the target.

The Hungarian side came close with six minutes remaining when Krisztian Lisztes fired just wide. However, there was to be no further scoring on what proved to be a disappointing night for the Hoops.