Werner strikes as Leipzig boost last-16 hopes with Celtic win

Celtic 0-2 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Werner 75' (assist: Silva), 2-0 Forsberg 84' (assist: Werner)

Leipzig's 3-1 win in the reverse fixture last week left Celtic playing catch up at the bottom of the standings. The hosts thus started in a hurry in front of a full house at Celtic Park. In the opening minute, Liel Abada sent in a testing cross from the right that was met by Daizen Maeda, who stooped to head narrowly off target. Leipzig rallied, but couldn't make their subsequent dominance tell, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Werner failing to find the breakthrough. As the half ticked on, the Bhoys grew in confidence and they were inches from hitting the front when Matt O’Riley's left-footed shot bounced back off the foot of a post. An offside flag would have frustrated the hosts had Greg Taylor's follow-up gone in instead of hitting the crossbar. At the other end, Christopher Nkunku's patience nearly paid off when the France international was presented with an opportunity to open the scoring, only to see his low shot saved by the outstretched foot of goalkeeper Joe Hart.

With news filtering through that Shakhtar Donetsk had taken an early second-half lead against section leaders Real Madrid in the group's other game, both of these teams knew there was all to play for in terms of qualifying. In spite of that, the game's big opening failed to arrive until the final quarter of an hour. David Raum's pass in for Andre Silva was well controlled by the Portuguese striker, whose cut-back was met perfectly by Werner's powerful close-range header. The goal deflated Celtic Park, but there was worse to come for the hosts. Emil Forsberg had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes when he was found by Werner before the Swede brilliantly found the top corner with a clever finish. With Shakhtar ultimately denied by a last-gasp goal in Warsaw, Leipzig were able to jump into second spot with two games to go.

• Leipzig won away from home for the first time under Rose (D1, L2).
• Werner has seven goals and four assists in 13 competitive games since returning to Leipzig.
• Forsberg edged back in front of Nkunku as Leipzig's record scorer in the competition with 10 goals.
• Silva has nine goals and four assists in 16 Champions League starts.
• Leipzig have won all three fixtures at home to Scottish clubs, and have now picked up their first win away in Scotland.
• Celtic have kept only one clean sheet in their last 24 European fixtures, conceding 57 times – including nine this season.

Teams

Celtic: Hart - Juranovic, Jenz, Carter-Vickers (c), Taylor - O'Riley, Hatate (Mooy 66') – Abada (Forrest 42'), Haksabanovic (Turnbull 66'), Maeda (Bernabei 80') - Furuhashi (Giakoumakis 66')
Unused subs: Nickisch, Siegrist, McCarthy, Abildgaard, Robertson, Ralston, Welsh
Out: McGregor (knee), Starfelt (knee)
Coach: Ange Postecoglou

Leipzig: Blaswich – Simakan (Henrichs 76'), Orban (c), Gvardiol, Raum – Haidara (Diallo 83'), Schlager – Szoboszlai (Forsberg 76'), Nkunku (Novoa 88'), Werner – Silva (Poulsen 76')
Unused subs: Nickisch, Ba, Kampl
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Olmo (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose

As it happened