How Celtic missed out on Champions League qualification against Kairat
Celtic were eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers after losing on penalties to Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. Despite dominating domestically and previously competing well against top European sides like Bayern Munich, they couldn’t find the extra quality needed across the two legs. Both matches ended goalless, and Celtic eventually fell short in the penalty shootout.
The match: Missed chances and lack of spark
The tie across two games told a frustrating story. Kairat were stubborn, organised, and offered little attacking threat. However, Celtic, despite controlling 67% of possession, failed to find the killer edge.
James Forrest, Yang, and Daizen Maeda started the attack, later joined by Adam Idah and Arne Engels. Yet chances were scarce. Maeda’s miss in the 85th minute was the clearest opening, a strike that flew over the bar and summed up Celtic’s lack of composure.
Aiden McGeady described the display as ‘not good enough’ and blamed poor planning. John Collins pointed to weak set-pieces and limited creativity and questioned why no top attacking signings had been made.
Despite more shots and passes than their hosts, Celtic’s expected goals were just 0.5. Against a team ranked 311th in Europe, compared to their own 56th, that statistic highlighted the gulf between possession and productivity.
The stakes: More than just defeat
Missing out on the Champions League is a huge financial blow.
- Champions League qualification = approx. €18m (£15.5m) in prize money, plus extra revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise.
- Europa League fallback = only around €4m (£3.46m), with smaller bonuses for wins and progression.
The setback is not only sporting but also financial, as the gulf between Champions League and Europa League earnings is massive.
The bigger picture: A wake-up call
This loss wasn’t just about one bad night. It exposed deeper issues: lack of quality in the final third, weak recruitment, and missed opportunities in the transfer market. For many fans, the defeat was a sobering reminder of how far Celtic still needs to go to compete consistently at this level.
The timing makes the setback even sharper. Celtic’s next game is the season’s first Old Firm clash against Rangers. A win could steady nerves, but a poor result might fuel frustration.
Rebuilding from the blow
Celtic’s Champions League exit represents a financial and morale hit. Rodgers has called for unity, but questions remain about whether the squad has enough depth and firepower to move forward.
The Europa League offers a chance for redemption, but the real challenge lies in how Celtic rebuilds from here, both on the pitch and in their transfer dealings. The bigger question is: can Celtic turn this setback into a springboard, or will it mark another season of missed opportunities in Europe?
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