Celtic return to the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions League where Brendan Rodgers’ side face Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio in Europe’s premier competition. In order to build up to the games, we are reviewing a number of the club’s memorable European Nights.
Back in 2007, Carlo Ancelotti brought his AC Milan team to Celtic Park in early October 2007. The previous season, Milan had broken Celtic hearts with a late extra-time winner from Kaka at the San Siro in the Last 16 second leg. Ancelotti’s Milan inevitably went on to win the Champions League in Athens that year by beating Liverpool 2-1 in Athens.
However, it would be Celtic’s day thanks to goals from Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald as Gordon Strachan’s side took a step towards qualification for the next round with a famous win. Strachan’s Celtic teams were often pragmatic and robust, on this occasion they controlled the game for an hour, allowing Milan to have the ball and limiting their chances. After 62 minutes, the skipper ‘Big Mick’ got the goal bundling in from a corner.
Unfortunately, the lead under the treacherous Glasgow was short-lived as Lee Naylor was adjudged to have held Massimo Ambrosini. The Italian looked for it but Naylor gave the referee a decision to make which in turn allowed Kaka to equalise from the spot.
Celtic sensed that Milan were there in the dying stages of the game and pushed up the park. Gary Caldwell skirted a shot off the Parkhead surface towards the right corner of the goal only for Dida to dive down and parry it back into the oncoming McDonald, who made no mistake.
Celtic team:- Boruc, Perrier Doumbe (Kennedy 79), Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, McGeady (Nakamura 85), Hartley, Donati, Jarosik (Killen 84),Scott Brown, McDonald.
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Riordan, Sno, O’Dea.
Booked:- Scott Brown, Donati, McDonald.
Goals:- McManus 62, McDonald 90.
AC Milan team:-Dida (Kalac 90), Oddo, Nesta, Bonera, Jankulovski, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (Gourcuff 55), Kaka, Inzaghi (Gilardino 76).
Subs Not Used:- Emerson, Simic, Favalli, Brocchi.
Booked:- Ambrosini, Nesta.
Goal:- Kaka 68 pen.
