CELTIC’S Europa League hopes hang in the balance after a heavy defeat to Sparta Prague at Parkhead.
The visitors – who suffered two heavy opening losses in the group section – jetted to Glasgow without eight players, including two goalkeepers due to fitness and viral issues.
Sparta Prague picked up a 4-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead Credit: PA:Press Association
But Lukas Julis grabbed a hat-trick as they became the first-ever Czech side to win at Parkhead – despite a second-half strike from Leigh Griffiths – and picked up their first win in the group.
The defeat leaves Neil Lennon’s men bottom with one point from three games – including two defeats at home.
Lille picked up a shock 3-0 win over AC Milan at the San Siro to put them on seven points at the top of the group with the Italian side second on six.
Celtic started the better of the two sides and dominated the early exchanges but as the minutes ticked by the visitors grew into the contest and on 24 minutes they would have been ahead hadn’t it been for Scott Bain’s crossbar.
Moments later the Hoops keeper was then called into action to make a smart save from a half-volley as the Czech side upped the pressure.
And just one minute after the woodwork came to their aid, the home side fell behind.
Julis smashed the ball high into the net after his team-mate David Hancko headed against the far post from a corner.
Mohamed Elynounoussi was close to bringing Lennon’s men level on 38 minutes but his effort crashed off the bar from a Ryan Christie cross after losing his marker with a smart run.
Julis completes his hat-trick with a simple tap-in Credit: AFP or licensors
Mohamed Elyounoussi crashes his effort off bar for Celtic in first halfCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
Celtic were then hit with a sucker punch right on half-time.
A long ball forward found David Moberg Karlsson and he caused chaos in the Celtic box before digging out a cross that fell to the feet of Julis.
He rounded Callum McGregor before confidently curling a low shot beyond Bain.
Moberg Karlsson threatened once again early in the second half as he broke at pace towards the Celtic goal but a timely interception from Shane Duffy denied the visitors the chance to further extend their advantage.
Just before the hour the Hoops nearly grabbed a way back into the contest.
Jeremie Frimpong latched on to a ball forward from Tom Rogic and cut inside the defender before curling just wide of the target.
Lennon threw Griffiths on to partner Odsonne Edouard up top for the final 30 minutes as they looked for a way back into the game.
And the Scotland international – who was recalled by Steve Clarke for the crucial Euro play-off with Serbia next week – was on the scoresheet inside four minutes.
Scott Brown and Shane Duffy rejected as Celtic concede goalCredit: PA:Press Association
The visitors crashed an effort off the base of the post to go 3-0 up at one end but after surviving that scare, Celtic raced up the other side and Griffiths fired home from a rebound after a brilliant flick and strike from Rogic.
The goal installed some confidence in Lennon’s men as they pushed for a leveller.
However, they were hit with another blow as that man Moberg Karlsson once again caused havoc with his pace before teeing up his team-mate Julis to complete his hat-trick with a simple tap-in 15 minutes from time.
And to add more misery to a poor night at Parkhead, Ladislav Krejci headed home a FOURTH goal for the visitors in stoppage time to inflict a heavy defeat on the Scottish champions.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
