RB Leipzig beat Celtic 3-1 as Hoops suffer second Champions League defeat

Celtic have suffered their second Champions League defeat of the season in a 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig in Germany.

A goal from Jota at the start of the second half cancelled out Christopher Nkunku’s opener in the first 45 before a Silva double won the game for the Bundesliga side.

Leipzig also had two goals chopped off by VAR in what turned out to be a tough night for the Scottish champions despite a promising opening hour on Wednesday.

The Hoops are now bottom of Group F following the defeat, but all hope is not lost with back-to-back home games up next.

If group favourites and European champions Real Madrid win their next three games, Celtic will qualify for the knockout stages with wins over Leipzig and Shakhtar in Glasgow.

Celtic travelled to Germany in third place with one point from their opening two games after a home defeat to Real Madrid and away draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.

RB Leipzig were still looking for their first point after back-to-back defeats against the same opponents.

Celebrations: Celtic star Jota made it 1-1 in the second half. SNS Group

Both teams had early half chances in a frantic opening five minutes and Leipzig were forced into a change just ten minutes into the half when their goalkeeper and captain Peter Gulasci was taken off injured.

The hosts thought they had opened the scoring through highly rated forward Christopher Nkunku on the 17th minute.

The 24-year-old raced through on goal and chipped the ball over Joe Hart, but it was found to be marginally offside after a VAR check.

Celtic then had their own period of pressure and forced two corners before a left footed shot from Greg Taylor was well saved by replacement keeper Janis Blaswich.

Kyogo then had a chance from inside the box, but his shot was deflected for a third corner in quick succession.

Celtic took a large and noisy travelling support to Germany. SNS Group

But just as Celtic were looking like they were getting a grip of the game Leipzig burst up the park on a counterattack and this time there was no denying Nkunku who slotted home just 16 seconds after Celtic’s corner.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for the Hoops who also lost their captain to injury in the first half when Callum McGregor was replaced by Oliver Abildgaard with around ten minutes before the break.

Kyogo came close to an equaliser around the 40-minute mark, but his looping header floated just over the cross bar following great work by Jota on the wing.

One goal separated the sides the sides at the break but, for the third Champions League in a row, Celtic were left ruing a string of missed chances in the first 45.

The second half was only two minutes old when the Hoops levelled the scoring through Jota who smashed the ball into the bottom corner following an inch perfect pass from Kyogo.

Leipzig thought they regained their lead through Dominik Szoboszlai on the hour mark but just like in the first half the celebrations were cut short when it was ruled out after another VAR check.

But they had their second just 35 seconds later when Silva took advantage of a gift from Joe Hart whose misplaced pass fell straight to a Leipzig player.

The home team continued to dominate the second half as Celtic struggled to get a foothold in the game after the Leipzig’s second goal.

And Silva put the game beyond doubt when he latched on to a Simikan cross to put the ball past Joe Hart for his second of the game to make it 3-1.

Celtic will now be hoping for a Real Madrid win against Shakhtar to keep them within touching distance to second spot and a place in the last 16.