Celtic lose to Anderlecht but claim Europa League spot

Celtic have succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Anderlecht in Tuesday night's Champions League Group B meeting at Celtic Park.

The Belgian side, hoping to secure a three-goal win and clinch a Europa League spot, began brightly and gave the Parkhead crowd a scare just two minutes in.

Sven Kums bore down on goal and fired an effort towards target, which required goalkeeper Craig Gordon to pull off a smart save with his legs and force the ball behind.

Anderlecht continued to push forward and, even though they could not break the deadlock by half time, they got onto the scoresheet just after the hour through a Jozo Simunovic own goal.

Dennis Appiah's cross in the box was flicked on by Pieter Gerkens towards the Celtic defender, the ball coming off his shoulder and going into the net off the far post.

However, Brendan Rodgers's charges were able to restrict their opponents to just the one goal, ensuring that third place in Group B - and a spot in the Europa League - went to the Scottish champions.

Celtic (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney; McGregor, Brown; Forrest, Armstrong (Rogic 45'), Sinclair (Ntcham 45'); Dembele (Edouard 74')

Anderlecht (4-3-3): Boeckx; Appiah (Bruno 89'), Mbodj (Josue 75'), Spajic, Obradovic; Dendoncker, Kums, Trebel; Gerkens (Teodorczyk 78'), Hanni, Onyekuru