The Champions League has a habit of inflicting these inglorious episodes on Celtic. It is difficult to shake the notion that this big fish will always drown when removed from its small domestic pond. Borussia Dortmund toyed with their visitors in a match that was over as a contest long before the half-time whistle blew. The Germans have won two out of two in this new format. They will have aspirations of equalling last season’s memorable tournament run, albeit with far sterner tests than this ahead. This was akin to a Grand Master playing an orangutan at chess. Men against Bhoys.
Suddenly there is pressure on Celtic’s upcoming trip to Atalanta. The paucity of their showing here undermined what had been a much-quoted sense that Celtic were better equipped for the Champions League than at any point in recent history. Theirs was a fragile, error-strewn display. Brendan Rodgers has now been in charge of three different Celtic teams that have lost seven goals in a single Champions League match. There is a six and a five in the Rodgers record as well.
