Hoops sweat on Commons
CRAIG GORDON made his first start for Celtic, but the loss of key midfielder Kris Commons will have been a concern for boss Ronny Deila.
The former Hearts and Sunderland keeper, new manager Deila’s only signing so far, was one of several changes from the side that started in the first-leg of their Champions League second qualifier against KR Reykjavik in Iceland on Tuesday night where the Scottish champions came away with a 1-0 win.
It was still an experienced side selected by Deila, who included Efe Ambrose, Virgil van Dijk and Nir Bitton in his starting XI.
Captain for the day Commons opened the scoring in the seventh minute against the German side with a drive from inside the box after being set up by striker Teemu Pukki.
Callum McGregor – the goalscoring hero in midweek – was also heavily involved in the build-up.
Attacking midfielder Commons, who scored 32 times last season, was substituted just before the break, which may cause some concern ahead of the return game against KR Reykjavik at Murrayfield on Tuesday night.
That match will be played at the home of Scottish rugby as Celtic Park is out of commission due to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Deila changed almost his whole side at the interval with the home team drawing level through striker Sylvano Comvalius after 69 minutes.
Pukki created the first chance of the game with just five minutes on the clock, forcing Benjamin Kirtsen in to a save after latchig on to Beram Kayal’s pass.
Pukki led the line in a three-pronged attack, supported by Dylan McGeouch and McGregor.
Gordon was first called into action after 20 minutes when he had to scrable to keep out a Marvin Stefaniak effort from the edge of the area.
The Scottish champions took the lead when McGregor pushed down the left wing, evading his defender before crossing for Pukki.
He controlled the ball before laying it into the path of Commons, who smashed his shot into a far corner.
McGregor almost had a hand in a second goal moments later, but his driven cross just evaded Pukki.
Kayal and Bitton both tested Kirsten with efforts from distance, though the latters went just over, in an open first half in Germany.
Adam Matthews was needed to clear an effort off the line to keep the Bhoys ahead, and the loss of Commons saw some creativity disappear.
Leigh Griffiths fired wide in the second period, and the Hoops were made to pay when Comvalius bundled the ball home after Emilio Izaguirre’s goalline clearance from a Sinan Tekerci effort.