UEFA Europa LeagueLeague Phase, Matchday SixThursday, December 11, 2025 CELTIC…0 ROMA…3(Scales 5og, Ferguson 35 & 45+1) Celtic suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Roma in the Europa League as the Italian side established a commanding first-half lead that they never looked like relinquishing. It was the toughest of opening 45 minutes for Celtic against a strong Roma side who took just five minutes to open the scoring. A corner into the area saw Gianluca Mancini and Liam Scales rise for the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, and a last touch off the Irishman’s head saw it land in the back of the net. Five minutes later, Stephan El Shaarawy saw his shot go wide of the target, while Matías Soulé went closer just 60 seconds later, but his effort was saved by Kasper Schmeichel. On 24 minutes Zeki Çelik’s effort went wide of the target as Roma continued their pursuit of a second goal, which nearly came three minutes later when Evan Ferguson hit the near post after surging into the box. The Italian side continued to dominate the game, creating a number of chances, and their second goal came on 36 minutes when Ferguson slotted home from close-ranger from a Celik cross. Celtic’s first real chance of note came two minutes later when they carved out a move into the box but Reo Hatate’s shot was over. And in the first minute of added time, Ferguson scored again to make it 3-0 to Roma with an impressive turn and finish inside the area. There was still time for Celtic to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty after Arne Engels was brought down inside the box, but the Belgian’s spot-kick hit the spot and went behind.The second-half saw three changes to the Celtic side and one of those, Kelechi Iheanacho, nearly scored when he was sent through on goal but his effort went narrowly wide. Roma continued to look dangerous on the attack, though on 56 minutes, Callum McGregor saw his shot from outside the area go just over the bar. And on 63 minutes, Celtic did manage to score. Hatate threaded a ball through the inside channel for Engels and his first-time cross into the box was guided into the net by Iheanacho, but a VAR review ruled the goal out for offside. Leon Bailey, on loan at Roma from Aston Villa, thought he’d made it 4-0 to Roma on 73 minutes, but his effort from inside the box was ruled out for offside. Bailey was then denied by Kasper Schmeichel after he was put through on goal, with Liam Scales blocking a follow-up effort. Mikel-Ange Balikwisha had an added time effort saved, but there was to be no further scoring on a difficult night for the Hoops, who must now turn their attentions to Sunday’s League Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden.
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