SNS GroupCeltic came back from being a goal behind to defeat Sturm Graz 2-1 in the Europa League.
The Premiership champions took three valuable League Phase points after Liam Scales and Benjamin Nygren struck in the second half to see off the Austrian side.
Celtic had taken to the pitch aiming to show a response to Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Dundee but their hopes took an early blow when Kelechi Iheanacho was forced off with a hamstring injury after two minutes, being replaced with Johnny Kenny.
There was then agony for Canadian right-back Alasttair Johnston, who suffered a similar injury on his return to the team after three months out.
Graz added to Brendan Rodgers’ woes when Tomi Horvat scored with a powerful shot from distance just 15 minutes into the game.
Celtic showed plenty of resolve as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser but couldn’t find a cutting edge in the first half. Nygren had a trio of good chances that he couldn’t take and Arne Engels had a header cleared off the line. Celtic went in at the break a goal down despite having had the best of the attacking play.
Reo Hatate fired a shot over the bar soon after the restart but Graz gave a reminder of their threat with two decent chances.
The leveller came just after the hour when Colby Donovan put Engels corner in for Scales to score with a first time finish.
Quickly afterwards, Engels was involved again when he swung in a corner that Nygren headed in from close range.
Celtic’s job became easier when Graz’s Tochi Chukwuani saw red after a late challenge on Callum McGregor.
The hosts pushed to put more gloss on the scoreline and Kenny had a couple of good chances he couldn’t convert.
Substitute Michel-Ange Balikwisha went close with a curling shot towards the end but Celtic had to be content with a narrow win.
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