Celtic have qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League, despite losing 3-1 at home to Group D winners Red Bull Salzburg tonight.
Brazilian hitman Alan scored twice inside 12 minutes to give the visitors a 2-0 lead, but Stefan Johansen halved the deficit on the half-hour mark to give the Bhoys a chance.
Ronny Deila's side pressed for a second-half equaliser, with Leigh Griffiths culpable of missing a couple of fine chances, but Naby Keita came off the bench to add a third in stoppage time.
Relive all of the action with Sports Mole's live commentary.
7.31pmGood evening ladies and gentlemen! I'm Shane and I'll be guiding you through Celtic's Europa League clash with Red Bull Salzburg at Parkhead. The hosts might just need a point against the Group D leaders - already qualified - to join them in the last-32 stage depending on what happens in the other game between Dinamo Zagreb and Astra Giurgiu. But let's hope they don't play for a point because, well, it's boring.
7.33pmThere's quite a bit to get through before kickoff, but let's have a quick look at a bit of team news first shall we? Go on then.
7.34pmCELTIC XI: Gordon; Matthews, Ambrose, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Mulgrew; McGregor, Johansen, Stokes; Griffiths
7.34pmSALZBURG XI: Gulasci; Ankerson, Ramalho, Hinteregger, Schmitz; Kampl, Bruno, Ilsanker, Leitgeb; Alan, Jonatan Soriano
7.35pmCELTIC SUBS: Zaluska, Bitton, Commons, Scepovic, Tonev, Kayal, Forrest
7.35pmSALZBURG SUBS: Walke; Schwegler, Caleta-Car, Keita, Laimer, Sabitzer
7.38pmWe best start with the hosts and it looks like Leigh Griffiths is spearheading the attack, with Anthony Stokes, Callum McGregor and Stefan Johansen supporting from midfield. Further back you'll find Scott Brown - who scored in the reverse fixture - and Charlie Mulgrew in defensive midfield. Adam Matthews, Efe Ambrose, Virgil van Dijk and Emilio Izaguirre line up in defence ahead of goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Decent enough team then!
7.41pmWhat about Salzburg? The big news for them is that 22-goal Jonatan Soriano starts up front. He partners Alan, who has four goals in the competition thus far, one less than Soriano. The duo lead the attack ahead of a midfield comprising of Christoph Leitgeb, Massimo Bruno, Konrad Laimer and Stefan Ilsanker. You'll find Martin Hinteregger, midfielder Andre Ramalho, Benno Schmitz and Peter Ankersen in defence, with Peter Gulasci between the sticks. He played (kinda) for Liverpool for five years.
7.44pmIs it just me or is it weird for a Brazilian to be called Alan? Anyway, let's take a look a closer look at him and Soriano in Salzburg's attack and, quite frankly, they're flip hot. They've got 32 goals between them in the Europa League and the Austrian Bundesliga already this season, so Celtic's defence will need to be alert. Soriano, with five goals, is actually this competition's leading goalscorer, tied with Spurs' Harry Kane and two others.
7.47pmWho can Celtic look to for a bit of inspiration in the goalscoring stakes? Hmm. Stefan Johansen is their leading scorer in this competition with two goals. Stokes has five Scottish Premiership goals but nobody has really set the Europa League alight for the Bhoys as of yet.
7.50pmHowever, that won't stop it being a very good game! Both sides played out a very decent 2-2 draw in Austria last month, with Red Bull twice coming from behind to earn what a hard-fought point in Salzburg. Wakaso Mubarak and Scott Brown struck for the Scots that night, while our friend Alan and Soriano netted for the hosts.
7.53pm
As fans make their way into Paradise, the atmosphere is building for tonight's game (NM) #UEL pic.twitter.com/tuSmiboljh
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) November 27, 20147.56pmPREDICTION: Right, we're not far away from kickoff now so let's glance ahead two hours into the future predict this one, shall we? I fancy a good game as I said, and I also fancy a 3-2 Celtic win. Ambitious, but he who dares. Four minutes away!
7.59pmApologies. I forgot that it was an 8.05pm kickoff. Incidentally, I can confirm that Rod Stewart is at Celtic Park tonight. Some of you might remember the legendary singer breaking down in tears after his side beat Barcelona in the Champions League few years back. He might cry tonight, but it'll be over the contrast in occasions I'm sure.
8.02pmCeltic fans are great, aren't they. It's going to be 12 vs. 11 by virtue of their partisan crowd at Parkhead so it's up against Salzburg right from the off.
1 minKICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we are officially off in Glasgow, my friends. The Hoops get us underway as they look to confirm their place in the last 32. Can they do it? Let's find out. Big 90 minutes ahead.
3 minCeltic fans making plenty of noise early on as you'd expect, waving plenty of flag, too. But Salzburg have a decent free kick in a very dangerous area now after Virgil van Dijk conceded it.
4 minIt comes to nothing, however, as Christoph Leitgeb's flick-on was cleared by Van Dijk.
5 minEmilio Izaguirre is extremely fortunate to get away with an early booking. He literally rugby tackled Soriano on that left flank. It would've made the last 85 minutes a tight-rope for him had he been booked.
7 minSalzburg far and away the better team so far it has to be said. Still very early obviously, but the visitors don't looked perturbed by this partian crowd whatsoever and they've brought along plenty of their own fans.
8 minGOAL!!! CELTIC 0-1 SALZBURG (ALAN)
9 minJust as I typed Salzburg were on top, Alan goes and fires the Austrians ahead. Massimo Bruno did really well; evading a few challenges before striking at goal from outside the box, but his shot looped Celtic's back four and Alan was on hand to side foot past Craig Gordon for his fifth Europa League of the season. Nothing less than what they deserved to be fair.
10 minCHANCE! Oh dear it could, and most definitely should, be 1-1 here my friends. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon would've had an assist after his searching ball was expertly plucked out of the sky by Leigh Griffiths who, with just Gulasci to beat, opted for power instead of precision and fired over the bar. What a fine chance.
12 minGOAL!!! CELTIC 0-2 SALZBURG (ALAN)
13 minThis is incredible! Alan has his second inside 12 minutes. Salzburg whip in a corner, and it's flicked on by André Ramalho as Alan evades Efe Ambrose to head past Gordon. Such poor defending from Ambrose, who completely went to sleep. We did say pre-match that Celtic's defence would have to be alert to combat Alan and Soriano but they've ignored the warnings.
15 minDespite the two-goal deficit, Celtic are still heading toward the last 32 because Dinamo Zagreb - who were five points behind the Scots prior to kickoff - are drawing 0-0 with Astra Giurgiu. They actually play Zagreb in Croatia the final round of games next month, so that one could be very, very nervy for them.
18 minGood response from Celtic to be fair, but what a miss that Leigh Griffiths chance has proven so far. If he scores it's 1-1 and a different game. Fine margins. Still, plenty of time left to claw this one back - and they're not short of support.
20 minSHOT! Salzburg are still pouring forward though and it could be three, with Gordon palming away Peter Ankersen's long-range shot. Good save.
21 minGood interplay from Stokes on Izaguirre on that left-hand side, with the Irishman playing in his Honduran counterpart, who fizzes a decent ball into the box but Peter Gulasci claims to get his first touch of the ball.
23 minSalzburg thought they had a third after Soriano fired a superb free kick past Gordon, but the Scottish keeper cleverly let it go in because it was an indirect free kick it seems. It was intelligent from Gordon to spot the referee's gesture that it was indeed an indirect free kick.
25 minCHANCE! Soriano gets his first sight at goal in open play, letting Alan's ball run across his body before firing a weak shot at Gordon. Van Dijk did very well to hurry the in-form striker.
27 minPENALTY APPEAL: Celtic are having a mare and they could've just conceded a penalty when Van Dijk brought Alan down in the box. The Brazilian is absolutely bemused, and I am too because it was a stick-on peno. Poor decision that.
29 minThis mob are very, very decent. Having scored a few opportunistic goals, Alan shows his Brazilian side with a delightful trick that fools Ambrose, but his cross is headed away by Van Dijk then.
30 minGOAL!!! CELTIC 1-2 SALZBURG (JOHANSEN)
31 minWhere did that come from then? Celtic half the deficit through Stefan Johansen, who sweeps an Izaguirre cross past Gulasci on the half-hour mark. That was his third Europa League goal of the season, but Hinteregger was a bit suspect it has to be said. Game on at Parkhead!
33 minBOOKING: Johansen goes into the book for a late challenge on Kevin Kampl now. Probably the right decision, although he doesn't agree!
35 minPoor from Efe Ambrose, who plays a cross-field ball to Emilio Izaguirre. Well, it was meant for Izaguirre, but it ended up going out for a throw-in. Keep it simple mate.
38 minCeltic haven't really built on that goal as of yet. Normally if a team pulls one back you see them throw the kitchen sink at their opponents in their bid to complete he comeback, but Ronny Deila's side haven't done much since that goal it has to be said. Seven minutes to half time.
40 minBOOKING: Benno Schmitz goes into the book now for quite a meaty challenge on Callum McGregor.
43 minLooks like it's going to be 2-1 at the break, folks. Neither side are finishing this half on top really and it's just gone a bit flat in recent minutes. Still, it's been a brilliant first half overall.
44 minStill goalless in Romania for Dinamo Zagreb's clash with Astra Giurgiu, by the way. I'll keep you apprised of anything that goes on there.
8.51pmHALF TIME: CELTIC 1-2 SALZBURG
8.54pmBrilliant half of football that. It was 2-0 to Salzburg after just 12 minutes thanks to a couple of goals from our friend Alan, before Stefan Johansen pulled one back on the half-hour mark with a decent finish. Salzburg have looked superb at times, while Celtic have looked very, very shakey in defence, so much so that we can call them Vodka and Red Bull Salzburg.
8.57pmCan Celtic come back? They've got no shortage of support, do they? Their Fans have been great throughout and stuck with them despite falling two goals behind so early.
9.00pmIf you want a nice, compressed version of the first 45 minutes then click here for our half-time report.
9.01pmAnyways, stick the kettle on and meet me back here in around three minutes for the second 45 minutes. It's going to be a cracker. You can have that in writing.
45 minRESTART: Right, we're back underway in a rocking Celtic Park, my friends.
47 minThis is a shocking challenge from Scott Brown who, with two feet off the ground, lunges in at Alan, who's now limping. Moment of madness from the Celtic skipper but he looks to have gotten away with it.
49 minAnthony Stokes swings in a very decent corner but it's headed away by Hinteregger. They've got another one and the Irishman whips another fine ball, which eventually shaves the top of the bar but the whistle went for a foul on Gulasci.
51 minUPDATE: Some very good news for Celtic now as Astra Giurgiu have gone one goal ahead at home to Dinamo Zagreb in the other Group D clash. Unless Dinamo turn that around and win, then Ronny Deila's Celtic will go into the last 32 regardless of what happens here.
53 minThis second half is yet to spawn any chances. It's been all Celtic so far, but they're yet to really wield a chance from their territorial dominance.
55 minThis second-half performance from Salzburg really makes the adage 'a game of two halves' ring true because, well, they've been pretty poor so far, after a cracking first 30 minutes or so.
58 minCharlie Mulgrew is down on the turf after a crunching challenge from Soriano I think it was. He's hobbling off the field but it's not yet clear if he's going to be subbed. He's holding his ribs, still feeling the pain of the challenge.
60 minMulgrew is back on the field now thankfully after appearing to shake off that injury.
63 minCHANCE! Salzburg should be 3-1 up, my friends. Kampl nutmegs Ambrose to set up a three-on-one situation for the visitors, with Soriano squaring to Alan, who passes back to his strike partner but he dragged a shot well wide of the mark. Poor.
65 minStokes really is fizzing in some blinding corners, but Salzburg are doing really well to combat them it has to be said. There's still 25 minutes left, but as it stands they don't look like getting that equaliser.
67 minSUBSTITUTES: Ronny Deila looks to freshen things up then, as Stokes and McGregor make way for Kris Commons and James Forrest. Will they inspire Celtic? Let's see.
70 minCLOSE! This is so, so close. Soriano drills a ball across the face of goal but there's too much pace on it for Alan, who would've only needed to touch to bag his hat-trick.
72 minIt says something that Salzburg, who have been second best in this half, have had two of the best chances. Celtic, despite plenty of possession, haven't been able to penetrate their defence as of yet.
74 minCHANCE! Just as I write that, Celtic fashion their best chance of the half when Johansen tees up Griffiths but, instead of squaring across to the unmarked Forest, went for goal himself with a shot that flew past the post. Poor decision.
77 minCHANCE! So, so poor from Griffiths again, who plants a free header straight into Gulasci following Izaguirre's brilliant cross. I wonder if it would've been worth deploying Stokes up top and subbing Griffiths instead? I won the UEFA Cup with Fulham in 2001/02 Championship Manager, so I know a thing or two about tactics.
80 minRight, 10 minutes left and Celtic really should be level, but they're not and time is certainly running out. I fancy them to get at least one, though.
83 minWorrying signs for Salzburg now as Ilsanker is receiving medical treatment, and the team have already made all three subs. That's the last thing they need. It looks like a very deep gash in his leg so it remains to be seen if he can carry on.
86 minIlsanker is back on the field so crisis averted for Salzburg. It's still 1-0 in Romania, so Dinamo Zagreb need two goals in the last four minutes in order to delay Celtic's progression to the last 32. Looks like they're going through.
88 minTwo minutes of normal time left and it doesn't look like Celtic are going to grab an equaliser, with Salzburg about to kill more time with a corner.
90 minTHREE MINUTES ADDED ON:
90 + 2 minGOAL!!! CELTIC 1-3 SALZBURG (KEITA)
90 + 3 minThat's all she wrote, folks. Naby Keita heads a third goal past Gordon, but Celtic still should be alright as far as their last-32 bid goes.
9.56pmFULL TIME: CELTIC 1-3 SALZBURG
9.57pmThat's all she wrote, my friends. Celtic, despite losing, still go through to the knockout stages of the Europa League after Dinamo Zagreb lost in Romania. That's all we've got time for tonight, but thanks for joining our live text commentary and be sure to come back on Saturday for EVERY Premier League encounter. Yep. See you then.
