Celtic Inflict More Champions League Pain on Leipzig

AFP/APP

Glasgow: Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn scored twice as Celtic came from behind to defeat RB Leipzig 3-1 on Tuesday, leaving the German club still without a point in the Champions League.

The visitors struck first in the 23rd minute through Christoph Baumgartner, but Kuhn quickly leveled the score with a curling shot before adding a second goal just before halftime.

Reo Hatate’s goal provided Celtic with a comfortable lead, lifting Brendan Rodgers’ side to seven points after four games and boosting their chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2013.

“If you told us after the Dortmund game we’d have four points from the next two games, I don’t think too many people would have expected that,” said Rodgers.

His side had previously suffered a 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in their second match. “It’s a great next step, giving us the motivation to aim for the play-off stage, but there’s still much to do.”

Leipzig, who recently endured their first Bundesliga defeat of the season against Dortmund, remain one of six teams without a point in this Champions League season.

“Something was missing, you have to be honest about that,” Baumgartner told DAZN, admitting that the team was “too sloppy, too inaccurate in our passing, and made too many easy mistakes.”

Leipzig initially took the lead as Baumgartner headed in a corner flicked by Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Willi Orban nearly doubled their lead but narrowly missed the goal. Kuhn then produced a brilliant equalizer, bending the ball in off the post.

Just before halftime, Kuhn completed the comeback by firing Greg Taylor’s cutback into the net. Celtic’s Hatate later sealed the victory, capitalizing on a spill by Leipzig’s goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.