Celtic have come from behind to earn a 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie this evening.
Xherdan Shaqiri opened the scoring for the Nerazzurri in the fourth minute and a close-range strike from Rodrigo Palacio nine minutes later doubled their lead.
However, Stuart Armstrong pulled a goal back for Celtic and moments later Hugo Campagnaro diverted the ball into his own net to level the scores.
On the stroke of half-time Inter regained their lead when Craig Gordon spilled the ball into the path of Palacio, who calmly slotted into the empty net.
The visitors looked set to claim the win, but deep into stoppage time John Guidetti fired a strike into the top corner to give his side hope ahead of next week's second leg.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening! The Europa League is back and there are some fantastic games taking place tonight. Here, we will be bringing you the latest from what has to be the standout tie of the round, as Celtic welcome Inter Milan to Glasgow.
If you're a fan of Celtic then you won't need reminding that the greatest moment in the club's history came against Inter. The 1967 European Cup Final ended with the Hoops winning 2-1, leading to Jock Stein's team famously earning the nickname of the Lisbon Lions. They will certainly be hoping to take inspiration from that great side today.
It's certainly too early to be judging where this current Celtic team will go down in history, but they are currently three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand and a fourth consecutive title looks highly likely.
The Bhoys are out for their pre-match warm up (NM) pic.twitter.com/8fvuWtVgeU
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) February 19, 2015
Meanwhile, Inter have endured a tumultuous season and they are a lowly 10th in Serie A. They have found it hard to gain any sort of consistency but there are signs of a resurgence, with a 4-1 victory over Atalanta at the weekend following up a 3-0 win over Palermo the week before.
TEAM NEWS: Celtic have named an unchanged starting lineup, which means that January arrivials Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong will make their European debuts. As for the visitors, Mauro Icardi is back from injury and will join Rodrigo Palacio in the attack.
CELTIC XI: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Bitton, Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Armstrong, Griffiths
INTER MILAN XI: Carrizo, Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Santon, Medel, Guarin, Kuzmanovic, Shaqiri, Palacio, Icardi
CELTIC SUBS: Zaluska, Ambrose, Henderson, McGregor, Wakaso, Scepovic, Guidetti
INTER MILAN SUBS: Handanovic, Vidic, Obi, Dodo, Hernanes, Kovacic, Puscas
The season may have started with a premature exit from the Champions League and plenty of controversy, but at the moment Ronny Deila's first season in charge of Celtic looks as if it will be a successful one. They are flying high in the league and they are well on track for a domestic treble, with a League Cup final clash against Dundee United to come next month.
It hasn't been quite so easy for them in Europe, as after dropping down to the Europa League they faced tricky opposition in Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb to reach the knockout stages. However, after grinding out two homes wins and two away draws they were through with a game to spare and were rewarded with tonight's clash against one of Europe's biggest clubs.
Well, Inter may historically be one of the great teams in world football, but the Italians have had such a poor season. It is hard to believed that they are 10th in the league, with their city rivals AC Milan just a place behind them. Walter Mazzarri paid the price for a bad start to the campaign, with Roberto Mancini tasked with resorting the club to their past glories.
.@javierzanetti greets the crowd at Celtic Park #CelticInter #UEL #FCIM pic.twitter.com/GjAcjsJdAk
— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter_en) February 19, 2015
While the Europa League may not usually be the sort of competition that Inter would be desperate to win, there is added incentive this season. For the first time, the winners will earn a place in the Champions League and with the Nerazzurri such a huge distance away from breaking into Serie A's top three, they must surely see this as a great opportunity to get back into Europe's biggest club competition.
PREDICTION: With the start of the game just a few moments away, it's time for a quick prediction! Celtic should be encouraged by the inconsistency of their opponents, but with the attacking threat that Inter have at their disposal, they cannot afford to switch off for a second. I am expecting a tight game, with a 1-1 draw how I see things finishing, giving the away side a slender advantage ahead of next week's return leg.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Celtic Park!
SHOT! Celtic have made a really bright start here and they are seeing plenty of the ball in their opponents' half. They also manage the first shot on goal, as Mackay-Steven works some space and drills in a low effort, but it is hit straight down the middle and is comfortable for Carrizo to hold.
GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Inter Milan (Xherdan Shaqiri)
Despite a promising start for the hosts, it's Inter who take the lead with a vital away goal. Shaqiri makes a great run behind the defence to latch onto Kuzmanovic's fine ball over the top, before seeing his volley saved by Gordon. However, the rebound drops kindly to the Swiss international, who calmly slots the ball into the far corner.
That really is the last thing Celtic would have wanted in the opening minutes of the game. It would be hard to see them going through if they went to the San Siro trailing, but they know that conceding another goal now would probably be fatal.
SHOT! Celtic are looking very nervous at the back and Van Dijk gives the ball away with a terrible pass inside his own half. Kuzmanovic is quick to latch onto it and he is afforded acres of space to come forward and fire in a strike, but his powerful effort ends up heading over the bar.
SAVE! It's all Inter at the moment and they look a threat every time they come forward. Shaqiri is particularly dangerous and he fires in a strike on the turn from the edge of the box that Gordon beats away for a throw in.
GOAL! Celtic 0-2 Inter Milan (Rodrigo Palacio)
This is turning into a bit of a disaster for Celtic, as they concede their second goal of the night. A corner is played out to Shaqiri and he then puts the ball back into the box. The hosts fail to deal with it and it ends up falling kindly to Palacio, who then places a composed low strike into the bottom corner past Gordon.
SHOT! The visitors continue to press for another goal and Icardi works some room just inside the box, before looking to bend one into the far corner. It doesn't quite have enough to beat Gordon, but at this rate there looks to be more goals in this tonight for Inter.
You've really got to worry for Celtic at the moment as they just can't handle the attacking threat that Inter have posed. Shaqiri has been running riot and the front two of Icardi and Palacio look on top of their game this evening.
GOAL! Celtic 1-2 Inter Milan (Stuart Armstrong)
Is this the start of a great comeback for Celtic? They are right back in this tie as Matthews gets to the byline down the right, before looking up and pulling the ball across the box to Armstrong who keeps his composure to place a low strike into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Celtic 2-2 Inter Milan (Hugo Campagnaro own goal)
This is incredible! In the space of two minutes Celtic have levelled the scores! It's a poor goal for Inter to concede, as a ball from the right is hooked into the box by Johansen and should be cleared, but Armstrong arrives at the front post and seems to put off Campagnaro, who can only touch the ball into his own net.
CHANCE! From being in a position of total control, Inter are looking shaky at the back and Celtic break at pace with Izaguirre down the left. The Honduran then looks up and delivers a searching ball into the box for Griffiths, but the striker can't quite get the contact he wants and directs his header over the bar.
CHANCE! Celtic have another decent opening when they win a free kick right down by the right-hand corner flag. Bitton whips in a teasing cross that Johansen meets at the back post, but the ball came at him at quite some pace and he can only head wide. The momentum is very much with the Hoops though and you suspect a third goal is not too far away.
Armstrong wins a free kick for Celtic in a great position just outside the box after a poor tackle by Guarin. Griffiths is the man who steps up to take it, but his effort isn't the best and ends up going high and wide of the target.
YELLOW CARD! Shaqiri started this game on fire, but he has gone a bit quiet since Celtic scored and he now picked up a booking for diving.
PENALTY APPEAL! Celtic continue to press for another goal before half time and there is chaos in the Inter box when Mackay-Steven hammers in a low strike. The ball takes a couple of deflections and it appears to hit Medel on the arm, but there was little the Chilean could do to get out of the way of the strike and the home side's appeals are waved away.
GOAL! Celtic 2-3 Inter Milan (Rodrigo Palacio)
In the final minute of the half Inter have regained their lead, but it's a moment to forget for Gordon. The keeper comes out to claim an overhit pass, but he allows the ball to spill from his grasp and Palacio is on hand to slide the ball into the unguarded net. It was a horror moment for the England keeper and it has come at such a vital moment in the game.
HALF-TIME: Celtic 2-3 Inter Milan
What an amazing game this has been! We have seen five goals in the opening 45 minutes and I'm sure there will be a few more after the break. Celtic had done so well to fight back from their dreadful start, but they really have it all to do now.
Let's take a quick look at the statistics from that incredible first half. Inter have seen much more of the ball with 59% of the possession, but it has been fairly even in the shots department, as the seven attempts from the visitors is just one more than the six that hosts have mustered.
I was really looking forward to this match before kick off and it certainly hasn't disappointed! You've got to say that both teams have been pretty poor at the back and there have been some huge mistakes. Gordon will no doubt be hugely frustrated that he wasn't able to hold onto the ball as Palacio scored and he may blame himself for the first goal, as Shaqiri's volley looked to be going out of play.
There's plenty of European action going on tonight, with Liverpool and Tottenham playing right now. The Reds are currently being held to a goalless draw by Besiktas, while Fiorentina have come from a goal down to level against Spurs. Some other notable results from earlier today saw Everton romp to a 4-1 win against Young Boys, while Napoli all but secured their place in the last-16 with a 4-0 thrashing of Trabzonspor.
Celtic take the kick off and get the second half underway!
The pace of the match certainly hasn't slowed down in the opening minutes of this half. It is still very much end to end, with both defences forward into a couple of last-ditch tackles already.
CHANCE! This is such a great chance for a striker of Palacio's quality. He is sent clear by a neat flick from Icardi, but the ball just gets stuck underneath his feet. He is closed down quickly and by the time he does manage to dig out a strike, it is a weak attempt that Gordon easily holds.
Inter are looking the more dangerous side at the moment and Medal picks the ball up in space outside the box and fires in a low strike. It takes a deflection of Palacio and Gordon is forced to beat the ball away, but the official's flag was raised, as the Argentine was standing just a yard offside.
SAVE! Gordon will certainly have his critics after tonight's performance, but he makes a fine save here. It's Shaqiri with the strike, as the winger cuts in from the right and fires in a low drive that looks destined for the far corner, before the keeper sticks out a hand to tip it behind.
CLOSE! What a good effort this is by Bitton. The Israeli is around 30 yards out from goal and he looks to fire a low strike into the bottom corner, but the ball flashes just wide of the post with Carrizo well beaten.
Inter are looking very dominant at the moment and they seem to have regained the control of the match that they had inside the opening 20 minutes. That goal right on the stroke of half time has been so vital for them and Mancini will be desperate for his side not to let this lead slip again.
SAVE! Huge moment for Celtic! Inter are caught out at the back and a misplaced clearance ends up running through to Mackay-Steven. He then drives into the box before getting away a low strike, but Carrizo is there to spread himself and block the shot.
This is much better from Celtic at the moment and they starting to get plenty of men forward in each attack. The crowd are right behind them and with a little bit more quality in the final third there is every chance of them scoring another goal.
SAVE! Carrizo comes to Inter's rescue again! Izaguirre sends a raking pass into the box from the left that Johansen chests into the path of Griffiths, but the keeper is quickly off his line to block his close-range strike.
YELLOW CARD! Santon is the second Inter player to pick up a booking this evening.
Some of the defending tonight from both teams has been appalling! This time it's Celtic who fail to clear a corner and ball drops to Ranocchia in the centre of the box. The Inter captain then tries a speculator overhead kick, but he ends up completely miskicking the ball and finally the defence get it away.
YELLOW CARD! Van Dijk is Celtic's first player to be shown a card tonight after a foul on Icardi.
SUBSTITUTION: Inter are making their first change, with Kovacic coming on to replace Icardi.
SUBSTITUTION: The hosts are also making a couple of changes, with Henderson and Guidetti coming on for Armstrong and Griffiths.
CHANCE! Henderson has only just come on, but he almost makes an immediate impact! The ball falls kindly for him when Ranocchia can only flick a cross into his path at the back post. He then takes a touch and fires in a strike, but it is hit straight at Carrizo who safely holds on.
SUBSTITUTION: it's another change for Inter, as Dodo comes on for Kuzmanovic.
YELLOW CARD! Campagnaro is the latest Inter player to be shown a card when he comes through the back of Henderson and barges the Celtic man to the floor.
SAVE! Gordon has had some nervy moments today and when a free kick is laid off for Shaqiri to strike, the keeper doesn't look at all comfortable as he beats away the attempt. It's safe to say that it hasn't been his best night in a Celtic shirt.
Celtic just seem to have run out of steam as we approach the final moments of this game. They aren't creating any chances and Inter look more likely to score the next goal, which certainly would kill the tie.
YELLOW CARD! It has got rather scrappy in the past few minutes and Johansen is booked for a foul on Medel.
YELLOW CARD! The cards keep piling up and Henderson is shown yellow for fouling Guarin.
We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time. Will it be enough for Celtic to grab a crucial equaliser?
GOAL! Celtic 3-3 Inter Milan (John Guidetti)
What a brilliant ending to an amazing match! Celtic have managed to level the scores deep into stoppage time and it gives them hope ahead of next week's second leg. Guidetti is the man who scores, as he latches onto Henderson's flicked ball over the top, before controlling the ball on his chest and firing a strike into the top corner!
SAVE! Just moments after equalising, Celtic almost find themselves behind again! Inter win a free kick just outside the box and Shaqiri steps up to take it. The Swiss international then curls in a fine strike, but Gordon is there to beat the ball away to safety!
FULL-TIME: Celtic 3-3 Inter Milan
It's all over at Celtic Park and an amazing finish to the game has seen it end in a 3-3 draw. Inter will be disappointed that they weren't able to hang on and take a first-leg lead, but Celtic fully deserve a draw for their efforts this evening.
That's all we've time for here, after a wonderful night of European football. If next week's return leg is anywhere near as good as tonight's match, then we will be in for a treat! I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
