End-to-end actionpublished at 20:14 British Summer Time 30 September 2021
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
![Lucas Alario heads into Celtic's net](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/640/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2021/9/30/b5d0cb43-5a72-4de0-b930-fa177534b4c2.jpg.webp)
Lucas Alario headed into Celtic's net, but the flag was up
![Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi is thwarted](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/640/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2021/9/30/eaa7daf3-4628-446b-b269-bd4acb583a26.jpg.webp)
Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi was poised to score but was thwarted by Jonathan Tah
FT: Celtic 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen - Hincapié and Wirtz net in first half; Alario converts from spot with Adli scoring in final seconds
Ange Postecoglou's side play first home group match
FT: Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers: Hancko's header thuds in off post despite McGregor's attempted save
Kamara ordered off in second half for second booking with 16 minutes to play after being booed by crowd
Clive Lindsay
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Lucas Alario headed into Celtic's net, but the flag was up
Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi was poised to score but was thwarted by Jonathan Tah
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageIt's good early signs from Celtic. They're getting to play the way they want. Yes, Leverkusen are putting them under pressure, but they're dealing with it so far
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageLeverkusen will press all game, so it's very important that Celtic are confident when they try to build their game up
A breathtaking start to the game continues as Kyogo Furuhashi threatens to make an instant impact on his return from injury.
He rounds the goalkeeper, but big defender Jonathan Tah sends in a telescopic leg to tip the ball out of the Japan striker's stride.
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
The visitors have the ball in the net already as goalkeeper Joe Hart is unable to hold a powerful drive from midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Striker Lucas Alario heads in the rebound, but the offside flag was up.
Phew is the cry around Celtic Park.
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen show their intent immediately as Lucas Alario fires a shot straight at goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Celtic 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen get the game under way in their all blue change strip.
Can Celtic end the night on a good note for Scottish football?
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland reporter at Celtic Park
That was loud as the Celtic team walked out to a cacophony of noise.
Has all the makings of a brilliant game of football.
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou welcomes back Callum McGregor and Kyogo Furuhashi back to his starting line-up.
"It’s great to have them back," he tells BT Sport. "Both started the season really well, they're influential in their own way. They trained yesterday and both are comfortable about starting so looking forward to having them out there.
"You have to respect what they [Leverkusen] bring, but we have to put them on the back foot and get the crowd behind us.
"We know how special these nights are and hopefully we make tonight another special night."
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
Celtic have lost 10 of their last 17 home matches in major European competition, winning seven, since drawing 3-3 with Manchester City in the Champions League in 2016-17.
Their previous 10 such defeats were spread across 50 matches.
Leverkusen have won five of their last seven away matches in major European competition, although they did lose their latest - to Young Boys in the Europa League last 32 last season.
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
As the teams enter a packed a noisy Celtic Park, a reminder of the home side's need for a win.
They began their Europa League group campaign with a 4-3 defeat by Real Betis while Bayer Leverkusen won 2-1 at home to Ferencvaros.
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
Celtic have won just four of their 24 matches against German sides, losing 15, all four wins coming at home, including last time out against RB Leipzig in this competition in 2018-19.
Leverkusen's four meetings with Scottish opponents have all been against Rangers, winning twice and losing once.
When they last faced Scottish opponents in the Europa League, they defeated Rangers home and away in the last 16 in 2019-20 edition, winning 3-1 at Ibrox.
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageKyogo is constantly on the move. He makes his runs with purpose. He presses from the front too and he is the trigger of Celtic's press. He allows Rogic and Turnbull to be where they need to be too. He is massive for them
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
Leverkusen head coach Gerardo Seoane makes three changes to the side that beat Mainz at the weekend.
Ivory Coast centre-half Odilon Kossounou, midfielder Karim Bellarabi and striker Patrik Schick - scorer of that Hampden screamer for Czech Republic - drop out with Piero Hincapie coming into defence, Paulinho in midfield and Argentine striker Lucas Alario coming into the starting line-up.
As expected, right-back Jeremie Frimpong lines up against his former club.
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland reporter at Celtic Park
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes told German media this week that Celtic are a "strong" team who they have followed for some time, having signed Jeremie Frimpong in January and having been "interested" in another Celtic player over the summer.
The German giants' last game in front of a full house before lockdown was at Ibrox against Rangers and now they're about to face a full Celtic Park.
You suspect it won't daunt them.
Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
A reminder that Ange Postecoglou has made three changes for the Celtic team aiming to stun Bayer Leverkusen.
Top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi, who had scored seven times before picking up an injury on Japan duty and has missed the last five games, returns.
As does Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor, the club captain who has been absent for the latest four.
Young wide man Adam Montgomery is also back.
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Celtic v Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
We'll bring you reaction to that Rangers defeat while also turning our attention to Celtic's game against Bayer Leverkusen...it's all go!
Here's the teams from Celtic Park...
Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Montgomery, Turnbull, McGregor, Abada, Rogic, Jota, Furuhashi.
Substitutes: Giakoumakis, Scales, Barkas, Bitton, Ajeti, Soro, McCarthy, Urhoghide, Bain, Shaw, Welsh.
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Frimpong, Tah, Hincapie, Bakker, Aranguiz, Demirbay, Diaby, Wirtz, Paulinho, Alario.
Substitutes: Retsos, Kossounou, Amiri, Schick, Sinkgraven, Adli, Bellarabi, Lunev, Neutgens.
FT: Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers
To make matters worse for Rangers, they will be without Glen Kamara for the first game of what is now a must-win double header against Brondby.
The Finland midfielder will now be suspended after his second-half red card.
FT: Sparta Prague 1-0 Rangers
Mark Hateley
Former Rangers striker on Sportsound
Quote MessageIt couldn't be going any worse in Europe for Rangers. They didn't work hard enough to create chances in the final third. They just didn't work the goalkeeper hard enough either
Rangers start their Europa League Group A campaign with two defeats.
Sparta build on their opening draw away to Brondby thanks to a towering first half header from centre-half David Hancko.
It might have only just crossed the line, confirmed by goalline technology, but it is enough to leave Rangers pointless at the bottom of the table after their opening defeat by Lyon.
David Hancko's first-half goal secured the win for Sparta