Europa League

INJURY-RAVAGED Celtic made it twenty trips to Spain without a win in an incredible topsy-turvy Europa League opener.  Ange Postecoglou’s side wanted to make history in Seville – the city that’s inextricably linked with their European past.
Celtic star Anthony Ralston looks dejectedCredit: Reuters

And an incredible start saw them two up inside 27 minutes when Albian Ajeti then Josip Juranovic’s penalty put them in dreamland.
But Betis came roaring back with a double from Juan Miranda and Juanmi in the space of three first-half minutes – and strikes from Borja Iglesias and Juanmi again in a similar second-half spell.
Tony Ralston headed in Celtic’s third but they couldn’t snatch a dramatic point from an engrossing, dramatic, nervy game played in a noisy, hostile environment.
Once Betis overcame their early sloppiness, they dominated – but Celtic will wonder how the night would’ve gone had they showed more defensive solidity after that great start.
Postecoglou’s starting line-up had underlined the paucity of alternatives he had available to him.
With Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, James Forrest and Georgios Giakoumakis all unavailable, his selection had an experimental look about it.

Ismaila Soro came in for his first start in nine games, while youngster Adam Montgomery made his first start of the season. Joe Hart captained the side.
Of the nine subs listed, the outfield players had made just six European starts between them and only James McCarthy – the only Celts sub used – could have been viewed as providing a goal threat.
It didn’t make for optimistic reading for the Group G opener, but Postecoglou’s patchwork team started sensationally, penning a hesitant-looking home side back in their own box and racing into a two-goal lead.
The home side hadn’t kept a clean sheet this season and a comical opening half-hour showed why.
After just two minutes, Tom Rogic’s pass sent winger Jota in on goal but home ‘keeper Claudio Bravo raced out to snatch the ball from his feet.  
It was a slack moment and Betis’ openness and general defensive lethargy got its comeuppance when Celtic went ahead after 13 minutes.
Jota’s trickery on the right created the space and although Victor Ruiz got to the ball first, he played it off Ajeti into the Betis net.
Referee Fran Jovic initially ruled the goal out for handball, but after a check the German VAR confirmed the legitimacy of it to the official.
Betis tried to respond immediately and Hart made a great diving save to his right from Andres Guardado’s header.
On a hot and humid evening, the atmosphere in the Benito Villamarin Stadium was similarly oppressive – and the home side reacted with fury after 20 minutes when they believed Celtic should have reduced to ten men.

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Ismaila Soro had already been booked for a foul on Nabil Fekir when he went in on Betis skipper Joaquin.
The referee allowed play to continue but Betis were enraged when the ball finally went out and he didn’t administer a second yellow.
It looked a let-off for the Ivorian and the blue-shirted Betis players clustered around referee Jovic – but a booking for Guardado for dissent was the only card he showed.
With the home side continuing to look shaky, Celtic incomprehensibly went two ahead after 27 minutes – from the penalty spot.
Rogic and Turnbull combined and when Ajeti went through on goal he reached the ball ahead of keeper Claudio Bravo but was clearly cleaned out by the keeper’s trailing leg.
Josip Juranovic stayed calm as the home fans cranked up the noise and bulleted the penalty into the corner of the net.
Incredibly, it could have been three in their next attack.
Jota again escaped his marker Juan Miranda and attempted to chip Bravo but the keeper made a desperate block and Ajeti couldn’t turn the loose ball home.
But it was end-to-end action and Hart was forced into another great save, touching Miranda’s shot against the post.
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That gave the home side hope that the game wasn’t dead – and the bizarre nature of the encounter was such that within seven minutes of being two goals in front, Celtic’s good work was undone and the game was level.
First Miranda advanced from full-back and after good build-up play by Juanmi, he side-footed home.
Now it was Celtic’s turn to wobble – and three minutes after Betis’ first, they were on level terms.
Borja Iglesias sprung the Celtic defensive line and as Hart advanced, he passed for Juanmi to slot into an empty net.  
The stadium fairly crackled with excitement during the interval and any prospect of the drama letting up after the re-start quickly evaporated.
In the opening seven minutes, both sides had chances to score and Betis established a two-goal advantage.
Ajeti blazed over from Rogic’s pass then at the other end Juanmi was just unable to reach Miranda’s cross.
But Betis had the initiative and Iglesias put them ahead with a near-post finish from Sergio Canales’ cross.
Worse followed for Celtic two minutes later. The visitors failed to clear a corner and Juanmi’s drive went in off the base of Hart’s post.
Rogic saw a volley rebound from the Betis post following Jota’s cross and Iglesias’ drive fizzed across the face of goal – and Celtic ensured an anxious ending for the home fans when Ralston headed in Turnbull’s free-kick.
But they just couldn’t find that fourth which would’ve made it a Seville sensation.

Juan Miranda celebrates after scoring for Real BetisCredit: Kenneth Ramsay
Josip Juranovic scores a penalty for CelticCredit: Kenneth Ramsay
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WEST HAM star Declan Rice scored a stunning solo goal against Dinamo Zagreb in their Europa League victory on Thursday.The England international, 22, dribbled from his own half before slotting the ball beyond goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to make it 2-0.
Declan Rice! He kept going and going! 💨🍃The West Ham skipper takes matters into his own hands, running all the way from inside his own half!This lad gets better and better! 👏#UEL pic.twitter.com/z6nYPCilDG— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 16, 2021

Declan Rice picked up the ball in his own halfCredit: EPA
He stormed forward and put his shot through the goalkeeper’s legs
Before celebrating with the travelling West Ham fansCredit: AFP
Rice’s moment of brilliance in Croatia began when he picked up the ball in his own half after a loose pass from Zagreb defender Josip Sutalo.
The Hammers midfielder optimistically tried to knock it beyond a Zagreb player and into space and faced a difficult physical battle.
But Rice brushed off his opposite number with ease and began storming towards the hosts’ goal, with huge gaps in their defence.
Zagreb’s last defender anxiously tried to get across to stop the Englishman but wasn’t quick enough and allowed him to fire on goal.
And it was a cool finish from Rice, who slotted it between the goalkeeper’s legs to double West Ham’s advantage in Croatia.
But the visiting team’s celebration was interrupted by Zagreb skipper Arijan Ademi, who tried to protest with the Hammers over the goal.

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It’s unclear why Ademi was aggrieved, although it didn’t matter too much as West Ham went on to comfortably win their Europa League opener.
Michail Antonio opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when he capitalised on a mistake from ex-Cardiff ace Kevin Theophile-Catherine.
Rice’s strike will have surprised some West Ham supporters as it was just his SIXTH goal of his club career and his first of the season.
The midfielder isn’t known for being prolific in front of goal but might be looking to develop that aspect of his game as he continues to improve.
Rice, who captained the team in Zagreb, has gone from being released by Chelsea in 2014 to one of England’s most sought after youngsters.
Declan Rice shows his skills in West Ham training More

ANT AND DEC brought the house down on the first leg of their European tour as they kept the West Ham bandwagon rolling along.Dinamo Zagreb were supposed to be delivering a rude awakening to the East End boys about what life in Europe is like.
Michail Antonio opened the scoring for West HamCredit: Getty
Declan Rice scored a stunning solo goal in ZagrebCredit: Reuters
But just as television’s top double act continue to shine, so Michail Antonio and Declan Rice are becoming an unstoppable force in football.
Antonio notched his fifth goal of the season to give them the lead, before Rice marked his 150th appearance for the club by scoring a wonderful second as West Ham did a job on the Croatians.
For months last season, many expected the bubble to burst but David Moyes and his team kept on to the end – and they look in no mood to let up this time round either.
Moyes had admitted at times earlier this season he had no real idea how his team would fare when European competition came around.
After all, this was the club’s first foray into the group stage of the Europa League, and they were coming up against a side that reached the quarter-finals last year.
The fact Zagreb were embarking on their 16th straight season of European football was another reason the Hammers boss had questions about whether his team would have the nous needed.
Declan Rice! He kept going and going! 💨🍃The West Ham skipper takes matters into his own hands, running all the way from inside his own half!This lad gets better and better! 👏#UEL pic.twitter.com/z6nYPCilDG— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 16, 2021

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He needn’t have worried – for the Hammers delivered a masterclass in how to win away.
But should we really be surprised anymore? After all, Champions League winner Kurt Zouma was making his debut in the centre of defence behind the midfield pair of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.
All three know their way around international football, as does fellow new signing Nikola Vlasic who was making his first start in a midfield alongside Manuel Lanzini and Pablo Fornals.
As a unit they were too good for the Croatian leaders right from the opening minute, forcing corner after corner as they set up camp in the Zagreb half.
One of those saw Soucek cause chaos in the home defence who only just managed to clear – and it was surely only a matter of time before the Premier League side found a lead.
Sure enough the opening goal of West Ham’s European campaign arrived on 21 minutes, and who else but Antonio was the man to find the net?
David Moyes’ team enjoyed a routine win in CroatiaCredit: Reuters
The striker would not have started this match had he not got himself sent off at Southampton last weekend, with the plan to save him for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday.
But suspension for this weekend meant Moyes was able to unleash his in-form striker, and the Jamaica international responded with the opener.
He latched onto an under-hit back pass from Kevin Theophile-Catherine, rounded keeper Dominik Livakovic and rolled the ball into the empty net.
Two minutes later Antonio’s ball round the corner set full-back Ryan Frederick through on goal cutting in from the right but his shot was diverted wide for a corner by Livakovic.
Croatian Vlasic then turned and drilled a shot narrowly wide just before the end of a first half so comfortable for the Hammers, it was only in stoppage time when Zagreb actually won a corner.
But games are not won just by a decent half, and Zagreb came out after the break looking more like the decent outfit they had been expected to be.
The atmosphere in Zagreb was intense but the Hammers dealt with is wellCredit: Reuters
And when Bruno Petkovic crashed a 20-yard shot just wide, it not only got the Zagreb players up for it but also the packed home crowd who call themselves the ‘Bad Blue Boys’.
Yet just as Dinamo looked to get up a head of steam, they were stopped in their tracks by Rice’s one-man moment of brilliance.
He read a pass in to the feet of Petkovic, nipped in front to rob possession just past half way, and set off galloping towards goal.
Petkovic tried every trick in the book to stop the Hammers man but Rice shrugged him off and left him in a heap before driving into the area and shooting low through Livakovic into the net.
It was a goal that encapsulated Rice’s abilities – though his decision to celebrate in front of those Bad Blue Boys almost started a fight with Zagreb captain Arjan Ademi racing in to confront him.
There was the flicker of a fight-back attempted by the hosts, largely in the shape of Luka Ivanusec who twice saw efforts pass agonisingly the wrong side of the post with Lukasz Fabianski scrambling to cover.
But that was it, and the Hammers were able to ease down through the gears see out the game with ease. 
Declan Rice shows his skills in West Ham training More

ROYAL ANTWERP coach Brian Priske has given his most revealing interview yet…by turning up to a press conference NAKED.The 44-year-old had promised to appear naked at Antwerp’s post-match press conference if they qualified for the Europa League group stages, the Greek City Times reported.
Priske appeared at Antwerp’s press conference naked after getting the club into the Europa League group stagesCredit: Rex
Priske walked into the press conference wearing just a towel
Priske told reporters: ‘I’m sorry, folks. I made a bet with my players before the game.’Credit: Rex
And the Danish 24-cap international celebrated in unique fashion after leading the Belgian outfit to Europa League success over AC Omonia.
Antwerp beat the Cypriots 3-2 on penalties on Thursday after winning 2-0 to overcome a 4-2 first leg loss.
Afterwards the Danish boss stunned assembled media by turning up for the post-match conference starkers – with just a towel to preserve his modesty.
Priske told reporters: “I’m sorry, folks. I made a bet with my players before the game.
“I told them that if we won, kept a clean sheet and went through, I would give my press conference naked.
“We did it. That is football, that is life – passion.

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“It was an incredible game. We did all we could to win 3-0 in normal time.
“There was lots of quality and commitment, and in the end we deserved our win on penalties.”
Priske took charge of Antwerp in May after leaving home-country club Midtjylland.

The Danish former defender spent the 2005-06 season in the Premier League with Portsmouth.
Priske made 30 Portsmouth appearances and played a key part in them ensuring Prem survival in 2006.
He also played for Belgians Genk and Club Brugge as well as six clubs in Denmark and Norway.

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RANGERS fans were surprised during TV coverage of the team’s game this evening – being suddenly left watching a confused man in a studio.The Light Blues drew 0-0 with Alashkert to seal a 1-0 aggregate victory in the second leg of their Europa League play-off tie.
The man was shown in a close-up shot on BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland’s coverage of the Rangers game cut to this screen before showing the man
And BBC Scotland had full coverage of the match as supporters tuned in this evening.
However, midway through the second half, the broadcast cut out and abruptly switched to a different scene.
In what appeared to be the Reporting Scotland studio, a masked man and woman could be seen standing at a desk before the woman moved away.
The man was then shown in a close-up shot before a caption read: “Professor Colin Campbell, James Hutton Institute.”
After around 90 seconds, the coverage returned to the Rangers game – but viewers were left in hysterics on social media.
@GRLloyd said: “Cracking coverage of the Rangers game BBC Scotland.”

@Alonso1888 tweeted: “Incredible meme material on BBC Scotland during the Rangers game.”
@Yesitsrobharvey joked: “Rather watch those two dafties with the masks on in the BBC studio than Rangers game on BBC Scotland right now #professorcolincampbell.”
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@DarrenConnell87 posted: “Genuinely thought I had an acid flashback while watching the Rangers game.”
@Steve_JN_Smith noted: “BBC Scotland’s coverage of the Alashkert v Glasgow Rangers game just got interrupted by live images of a man.
“The man became increasingly uncomfortable as it dawned on him that he was on live TV.

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“There was also a woman but she ran off leaving the man on his own. Great stuff.”
@JohnnytheGreek wondered: “Oh to be eavesdropping on the BBC Scotland switchboard…”
And @LauraCampbell97 said: “Hahahaha that poor guy must have felt so awkward.”
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As for the game itself, Rangers never really had to get out of second gear as they settled for a goalless draw in Armenia.
They will now be in the pot for tomorrow’s Europa League group stage draw.
And they will then begin their preparations for Sunday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic at Ibrox.
A woman was also seen standing with the man during the coverage
A mistaken caption then appeared for the man
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