Summary

  • McGregor gives Celtic lead; Klonaridis levels

  • Galanopoulos sent off after second booking

  • Second leg in Athens on Tuesday

  • Get involved #bbcsportscot

  1. Thank you and goodnightpublished at 22:21 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    So an ultimately frustrating evening for Celtic, and a difficult second leg to come, but they will still travel to Greece with hope and confidence.

    Before then, the champions have a Saturday lunchtime Premiership fixture at Hearts to negotiate.

    We'll be back tomorrow night with live coverage of Rangers v Maribor and Hibernian v Molde in the first legs of their Europa League third qualifying round ties.

    See you then, and thanks for your company tonight.

  2. Celtic need 'star men' to shine in Athenspublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    You hope two or three players in the forward positions of Celtic have a really star night. They have to score now – they know that. They need to approach the game in that manner. Try to get a grip of the game.

    Tom Rogic will probably start again because he is the player that can open teams up. Rodgers took him off tonight at a crucial stage – I don’t know if I would have taken him off because he is capable of doing something. Those players now have to come alive.

  3. Will Boyata return for second leg?published at 22:16 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    Celtic v AEK Athens (19:45)

    With Kristoffer Ajer suspended after his booking tonight, Brendan Rodgers has a bit of a defensive headache for next week's second leg.

    Jozo Simunovic is available again after his own two-match European ban, but the fact that Jack Hendry was preferred for tonight's game suggests the Bosnian does not hold the full confidence of his manager just now.

    Dedryck Boyata was not deemed ready for tonight, but assuming Celtic don't receive an offer they can't refuse in the meantime - will Fulham increase their initial £8m offer? - one suspects Rodgers will be keen to see the Belgian back at the heart of the defence as soon as possible.

    Dedryck Boyata trains with Celtic on TuesdayImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Dedryck Boyata has returned to training with Celtic, but was not deemed ready to return for tonight's game

  4. 'Nothing to fear' for Celtic in second legpublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists his side are more confident of progressing to the final play-off round, despite tonight's result.

    "If we had come in having not made the mistake for the goal and won 1-0, I would have been ecstatic with the performance at this stage of the season," he told Radio Scotland.

    "It wasn't to be but the players were outstanding. I thought we really dominated that first period. We gave away a poor goal just before half-time but it was just a case of staying calm and getting our game going again.

    "We continued to dominate after they got the man sent off, and the only frustration was we didn't finish off some really good play.

    "But I said to the players, we have nothing to fear. We put in a big performance and didn't quite get the result tonight, but it gives us a chance to go out there and get a result.

    "It was always going to be difficult, whatever the result tonight. But after that performance, I think we feel a lot more confident we can do that."

  5. 'Simunovic is liable to do anything just now'published at 22:08 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    What I’m seeing on the pitch doesn’t give me confidence in Jozo Simunovic. He’s liable to do anything at the moment. He’s gone backwards.

    He was so erratic against Livingston on Saturday. To go out to Athens with Simunovic in the team alongside Hendry…maybe he’ll go to a back-three again and keep Lustig in there to help them out a bit.

  6. 'Last chance saloon' for Rodgerspublished at 22:00

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Scott McDonald
    Former Celtic striker on BBC Sportsound

    Playing against 10 men made it harder for Celtic. AEK's job was just to spoil, and not even try to counter.

    Livaja held the ball up, he was strong, gave Ajer problems, got Ajer booked and suspended.

    There are big question marks on who Rodgers plays next week. He has to bring Boyata in - this is last chance saloon now.

  7. Get Involved - Can Celtic still get through?published at 21:53 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Gordon M: All Rodgers' fault. Complete failure to address defensive weaknesses in numerous windows.

    Barry Layden: We might score [in the second leg]. We will concede.

    Some disappointed Celtic fans after that draw in Glasgow. Where do Brendan Rodgers' men need to improve for the next leg? Let us know using #bbcsportscot

  8. Where's the space? Celtic couldn't find itpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Scott McDonald
    Former Celtic striker on BBC Sportsound

    They couldn’t break AEK down and you’ve got to give the Greek side credit for that. They defended resolutely for a lot of the game. Celtic had a lot of pressure on them in the first half but had only two or three chances in that period at most.

    They’re a well-organised unit. When they go down to 10 men, they bring an extra man into midfield and flood it.

    Where’s the space? In the wide areas. You’ve got to overload those areas and make problems. Celtic just didn’t do that.

  9. 'Away leg will test Celtic's mettle'published at 21:44 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    The second leg really will be a test of nerve and mentality for Celtic. The players will have to stand up to it.

    They still have a chance, because AEK Athens will probably play a similar way at home, on the counter-attack. Celtic have enough ability to score an away goal, but they’ll have to be very, very careful.

  10. 'AEK defensive masterclass thwarts Celtic'published at 21:43 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    FT: Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Chris McLaughlin
    BBC Sport Scotland

    In the beginning, it all looked comfortable and straightforward, but by the end, Celtic had a massive task ahead of them in their quest for the Champions League group stage.

    At times they looked excellent - at others, nervous and unsure. The visitors’ masterclass in defending under severe pressure gives them the edge going into next week’s return leg.

  11. FULL-TIME - Celtic 1-1 AEK Athenspublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    Despite the best efforts of Kieran Tierney, who was named man of the match, Celtic have to settle for a draw at home.

    That makes for a decidely uncomfortable second leg at the Olympic Stadium in Athens next Tuesday, you'd think.

    Celtic's Kieran Tierney takes on Tasos Bakasetas of AEK AthensImage source, Getty Images
  12. CLOSE!published at 90+4 mins

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Olivier Ntcham unleashes a shot that curls narrowly over the bar.

    Into the final minute...

  13. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Scott Sinclair gets to the left byline and forces a corner. Leigh Griffiths takes it, and the ball falls to James Forrest, but is volley is well wide.

  14. Five minutes of added time...published at 21:37 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

  15. Celtic 'running out of ideas'published at 21:35 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Scott McDonald
    Former Celtic striker on BBC Sportsound

    Celtic just seem to be on their heels and running out of ideas in these last 10 minutes or so.

  16. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Five minutes of normal time left. Can Celtic find a second goal and take a precious lead to Greece next week?

  17. Lace it or place it?published at 21:30 British Summer Time 8 August 2018

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Scott McDonald
    Former Celtic striker on BBC Sportsound

    Easy to say now, but if Ntcham had just put his foot through it, with so many bodies in the way, it might have been a better option.

  18. Postpublished at 81 mins

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Leigh Griffiths has an initial effort blocked, and when it falls to Olivier Ntcham, he tries to steer the ball into the net from the edge of the box, and AEK keeper Vasilio Barkas is able to gather comfortably.

  19. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    AEK make another substitution, Rodrigo Galo Brito coming on for the goalscorer, Viktor Klonaridis.

  20. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Celtic 1-1 AEK Athens

    Olivier Ntcham gets in a ball from the right byline, but Scott Sinclair, just on as a sub, can't make contact with it.