Celtic out of Europe after 1-1 Champions League draw with Shakhtar Donetsk

Celtic’s hopes of progressing in European competition have ended after a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Giorgos Giakoumakis opened the scoring for Celtic in the first half but Mykhaylo Mudryk fired in a second half equaliser for Shakhtar.

The result means that Ange Postecoglou’s side will finish fourth in Group F and have no prospect of taking a consolation place in the Europa League.

The Scottish champions will now end their European campaign in the final group game against Real Madrid in Estadio Santiago Bernabeu next week. It will bring to a close a group stage campaign where Celtic will be frustrated that their attacking intent has not brought more goals and points.

Postecoglou had opted to go with an attack-heavy line-up for the must-win match, playing both Kyogo Furuhashi and Giakoumakis, with Liel Abada and Sead Haksabanovic in what was effectively a four-man front line.

The approach paid off in the opening stages, with Giakoumakis shooting over from distance and Celtic on top, though Shakhtar looked dangerous on the counter, with rising star Mudryk posing a threat whenever the visitors broke.

O’Riley tried his luck with a curling shot from 20 yards out as Celtic pressed forward and soon after they got the goal they wanted.

A low cross from Haksabanovic was met by Abada but his shot was blocked and it spilled in front of Giakoumakis. The Greek striker needed no invitation to prod the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Giakoumakis then had a powerful shot turned away as Celtic looked to capitalise on their lead but Shakhtar were close to an equaliser when Muryk raced through on goal only to be thwarted by Joe Hart just before half time.

After the break, the young forward was not to be denied and Shakhtar equalised just before the hour mark. Mudryk made an incisive run from the left, cut inside before sizing up a shot and then lashed a powerful finish past Hart.

Celtic pushed to regain their lead and had a good opportunity when Giakoumakis played in Furuhashi but the Japanese forward was uncharacteristically weak with his finish.

Shakhtar should have taken the lead soon after. Mudryk found space again and raced forward with the ball before squaring it to Danylo Sikan, leaving the substitute ith the simplest of tasks to knock the ball into an empty net. Instead, Sikan seemed caught in two minds about how to finish and knocked the ball wide from six yards.

Celtic continued to get on the front foot, determined not to give up their slim chances of making it out of the group, but could not find the incisive pass or finish that could settle the game. Shakhtar settled for a point that keeps their hopes alive, while Celtic look to next week’s match in Madrid and then a focus on domestic competition.