Celtic’s dream start undone as Real Betis hit back in Seville thriller
almost 4 years in The Irish Times
Real Betis 4 Celtic 3
Celtic conceded four goals in 21 minutes on their return to Seville as they let slip a two-goal lead against Real Betis.
Ange Postecoglou’s side lost two goals in quick succession either side of half-time on their way to a 4-3 defeat.
The visitors deservedly led through Albian Ajeti’s goal and a penalty from Josip Juranovic but their opening Europa League group game turned in dramatic fashion just after the half-hour mark.
Juan Miranda pulled one back before Juanmi hit a double either side of a Borja Iglesias goal.
Anthony Ralston headed home with four minutes left but Celtic could not fashion a clear chance to equalise.
West Ham United’s Declan Rice scores their second goal in the Europa League game against Dinamo Zagreb at Maksimir Stadium. Photograph: Denis Lovrovic/AFP via Getty Images
Dinamo Zagreb 0 West Ham 2
West Ham announced themselves on the Europa League stage as goals from Michail Antonio and Declan Rice secured a 2-0 victory at Dinamo Zagreb.
The Hammers’ very own Ant and Dec provided the tea-time entertainment in Croatia by finding the net either side of half-time.
Antonio was probably only in the team due to the red card he picked up at Southampton, which has instead given him an enforced rest against Manchester United on Sunday.
But striker brought his sizzling domestic form to the continent with his fifth goal of the season.
Rice, making his European club debut with 26 caps for England already to his name, added the second to give David Moyes’s side a comfortable win in their first ever group stage match.
It is only the ninth time the Hammers have even been in Europe and the last time they won a match, not including qualifiers, was in 1999 against another Croatian side, Osijek.
Europa Conference League
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scores Tottenham Hotspur’s second goal during the Europa Conference League match against Rennes at Stade Rennes. Photograph: John Berry/Getty Images
Rennes 2 Tottenham 2
Tottenham came from behind to draw 2-2 in their opening Europa Conference League Group G game at Rennes, but it was a costly evening as they suffered more injury problems.
In their toughest looking assignment of the inaugural third-tier European club competition, they went ahead through Loic Bade’s early own goal before the French team hit back either side of half-time through Flavian Tait and Gaetan Laborde.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s leveller earned Spurs a point, but Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura limped off and with a Premier League match against Chelsea in 72 hours, their attacking numbers look short.
Son Heung-min is already facing a race against time to be fit with a calf injury while Giovani Lo Celso does not get back from his quarantine camp in Croatia until Saturday, leaving Nuno Espirito Santo with a headache.