SOCCER UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Celtic 2 Villareal 0AS CELTIC restored pride here last night, their hunger probably intensified. There will be no further European involvement until next season for the Scottish champions, a matter which was decided in advance of Villarreal's visit.
Yet a comfortable win, which maintained Celtic's fine home record in the tournament, will have prompted regret that there will be no further opportunity to test themselves against the continent's leading lights in the new year.
Villarreal, reduced to 10 men in the first half after striker Guille Franco was dismissed, join Manchester United in advancing from Group E. Long before full-time, the La Liga team seemed to have their minds focused on the game this weekend against Sevilla.
The muted home support was hardly roused by Villarreal's bright opening, with the visitors passing up three early chances.
Fortune subsequently shone on Gordon Strachan's men, arguably for the first time in this season's Champions League. Sebastian Viera, the Villarreal goalkeeper, spilled the tamest of crosses from Mark Wilson to allow Shaun Maloney to head home the opening goal.
The diminutive Maloney, not renowned for aerial prowess, had secured only Celtic's third goal of the competition.
Villarreal's hunger took an over-zealous form 10 minutes from the break as Franco needlessly aimed a loose hand at Gary Caldwell and was promptly dismissed on the advice of an assistant referee.
Any aspirations of a comeback now appeared distant for the Spaniards. And they were rendered even more remote in first-half stoppage time, Aiden McGeady rounding off a driving run from midfield with a fine, low finish from 20 yards. That was the end of the excitement as fans had to endure a dour second half.
• Guardian Service
CELTIC:Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (O'Dea 81), Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley, McGeady (McGowan 75), Maloney, Samaras (McDonald 81). Subs not used: Mark Brown, Loovens, Mizuno, Caddis. Booked: Caldwell, McGowan.
VILLARREAL:Viera, Angel, Fuentes, Rodriguez, Bruno, Cani, Senna (Nihat 45), Edmilson, Fernandez, Franco, Ibagaza (Santi Cazorla 60). Subs not used: Diego Lopez, Eguren, Pires, Cygan. Sent Off: Franco (35). Booked: Edmilson, Senna, Angel, Ibagaza.
Referee:Claudio Circhetta (Switzerland).
