There were chances aplenty for Celtic, but they couldn't take them in order to keep their Champions League dreams alive.
Ange Postecoglou' s side needed a result against RB Leipzig to retain any hope of making it out of Group F and into the knock-out stages. They will be wondering how they didn't go in ahead at the break after hitting the woodwork twice. Matt O'Riley saw his effort come back off the near post before Greg Taylor stretched to try and turn the rebound on, only to see his header hit the crossbar.
Without resorting to stereotype, it was the German's who proved efficiently clinical on the night, taking their two big second half opportunities with aplomb. Timo Werner's timing and accuracy was on point as the former Chelsea man arrived in the box to guide home a clever header to put the Bundesliga side in front with 15 minutes left. And Emil Forsberg proved just as deadly, slamming into the top corner to put any hopes of qualification beyond the Hoops.
Here's how the hosts rated out of 10, a perfect or otherwise.
JOE HART: Well protected by the men in front of him until late in first half when he was forced to make a vital stop with his right leg to deny Nkunku. No chance with the goals - 7
JOSIP JURANOVIC: Looked great going forward but had his hands full defensively when left back Raum ran at him with real conviction - 6
CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS: His block on Werner inside the packed Celtic box after 15 minutes emphasised the importance his reading of the game and composure were to his team but eventually swamped - 7
MORTIZ JENZ: Formed a solid barrier with Carter-Vickers and produced one great block to deny Werner after he’d skinned his partner but couldn’t prevent the goals in the last 15 minutes - 7
GREG TAYLOR: Was unlucky to see his header from O’Riley’s rebound hit the bar and battled gamefully against the excellent attacking right back Simakan - 6
MATT O’RILEY : Was the deepest lying midfielder but that didn’t stop him getting forward to scud the post and he put in a real shift trying to stem the tide - 6
REO HATATE: At times brilliant with his quick-witted passing but other times he gave the ball away too easily before being replaced by Turnbull - 6
SEAD HAKSABANOVIC: Was the most attack-minded midfielder and looked at times like he was forming a strike partnership with Kyogo. Drifted out of it before going off - 6
LIEL ABADA: A livewire on the right when in possession in the early stages, creating a chance for Maeda his night came to an abrupt end in the 42nd minute when he went down after a block tackle and had to be replaced - 5
KYOGO FURUHASHI: Scorned a real chance with a header in the first half and worked his socks off but it was a night when little really came off for the talisman and he was subbed for Giakoumakis - 6
DAIZEN MAEDA: Missed a really good chance inside the first minute but a lot of his work was done in trying to contain Leipzig’s attacking right back Simakan before going off late in the match - 6
SUBS:
JAMES FORREST: Experienced winger was called into action for Abada three minutes before the break - 5
DAVID TURNBULL: Replaced Hatate as part of a triple change aimed at pepping Celtic up - 3
AARON MOOY: On for Haksabanovic and did his fair share of grafting in the middle of the park - 3
GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS: Replaced Kyogo as Celtic tried to find something different up front to win the game - 3
ALEXANDRO BERNABEI: On for Maeda and played in front of Taylor on the left - 2
READ NEXT:
