Atletico too strong for Hoops

Celtic's dismal European away record continued with a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in their Europa League Group I opener in the Vicente Calderon stadium.

The Hoops were still warming to their task when Colombian striker Radamel Falcao met a Diego corner in the third minute to head past Hoops keeper Fraser Forster.

Diego added the second in the 67th minute to leave the Parkhead men with one away win in Europe in 31 games ahead of Sunday's Old Firm clash at Ibrox.

The game was barely into the third minute when Charlie Mulgrew conceded a corner and Diego's cross into the box was met by Falcao, who bulleted his header from 10 yards past Hoops keeper Fraser Forster.

Celtic wobbled in the following moments but in the sixth minute lone striker Gary Hooper was set up by stand-in skipper Beram Kayal. Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois rushed from his goal to block the former Scunthorpe striker's close-range shot.

The home side began to impose themselves and Mulgrew did well to block a goalbound header from Falcao at the expense of a corner before Arda Turan fired in a shot from distance which went too close to the visitors' goal for the comfort of Forster.

Celtic began the second half positively when midfielder Ki Sung-yueng's powerful drive from 30 yards had to be tipped over the bar by Courtois although the corner came to nothing.

In the 65th minute, after Arda Turan had bundled Ki to the ground 30 yards from goal, Mulgrew came close with his free-kick, the ball speeding just past the near post.

But two minutes later the home side doubled their lead in quite simple style after they had cut open the Hoops defence with Turan's cut-back placed confidently in to the net by Diego from 12 yards.

The goal sapped belief from the visitors and soon afterwards Forster had to make a great stretching save from Turan who had been set up by Antonio Lopez.