Defeat by European Elite
Celtic were out classed and well beaten by RB Salzburg in the Europa League group stage. The Austrian side are by a distance the best side Celtic have played outside Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain in the last two seasons.
Last season’s Europa League semi-finalists controlled 65% of the possession, a figure only beaten by PSG in the 0-5 home reverse last September (66%).
But it was possession with a punch. Only three sides managed 10 or more shots inside Celtic’s box last season. Hibernian managed it twice and the others were Bayern Munich (0-3) and PSG (1-7). Again, only Bayern Munich and PSG managed to out shoot the 23 total goal efforts by Salzburg.
The home side lost the ball 50 times in Celtic's defensive third. This means they were in Celtic's defensive third 50 times to lose it! The next highest Celtic have faced this season is 31 by both Kilmarnock and The Rangers. Adding in corners and shots, Salzburg were in the Celtic defensive third approximately 80 times!
Salzburg are the first team Celtic have faced this season that did not give the ball away in their own defensive third at all. By contrast Celtic lost the ball in the Salzburg final third only 13 times whilst giving up the ball in their own defensive third 8 times.
The attacking was relentless and with purpose. Only one side had a higher single game Expected Goals (xG) than the 2.912 by the home side here – Bayern Munich away (2.929).
Most remarkably was the ability of the Austrian side to carve Celtic open with accurate high-speed passes. No opponent has come close to the Expected Assists (xA) total of 3.469. PSG created 2.744 worth of chances in defeating Celtic 5-0 at Celtic Park. The average xG of the chances Salzburg created was 0.158. The season average against Celtic is 0.102.
Contrast this with the defeat to Heart of Midlothian. Only 7 of Hearts 14 shots were assisted as the opposition relied upon winning knocks downs, flick ons and second balls to create chances. Hearts xA was 0.520 compared to their xG of 1.191 i.e. their shots were often unassisted. 22 of Salzburg’s 23 shots were assisted.
The vertical passing effectiveness was something Celtic are simply not used to domestically. Last season the highest Total Impect (measuring ability to break defensive lines by taking opponents out through passing and dribbling) was 282 by Hibernian in the League Cup Semi Final (Celtic won 4-2). No side broke 300 Total Impect against Celtic apart from Bayern Munich (426) and PSG (460). Salzburg managed 316. The highest against Celtic this season previously was Rosenborg (197).
Defensively Salzburg pressed and harried Celtic to the extent the Hoops only managed 4.16 passes per opposition defensive action. Their lowest of the season. Conversely, the Austrian Champions managed 7.07 passes per Celtic defensive action, the most by any opposition this season. Celtic's 269 completed passes is their lowest of the season by nearly 100. Only against Hearts in winning 3-1 away have Celtic managed less over the last two seasons. Celtic didn't manage a single pass completion into the opposition Danger Zone.
There are many aspects of the game about which to be critical of Celtic. But be under no doubt that this opponent deserves a place amongst European elite.