Celtic U19s have been knocked out of the UEFA Youth League after a 4-0 defeat away to Atletico Madrid this afternoon.
Spanish and Algerian youth international Rayane Belid scored a hat-trick on the day to punish the side managed by Darren O’Dea and Stephen McManus. Impressive 19-year-old Adrian Nino was the other Atletico prospect on the scoresheet.
The young Bhoys needed to avoid defeat in Madrid to keep their hopes of qualification for the next round alive, but the result ensured that Atletico and Feyenoord are beyond the maximum points total they can now obtain.
Italian side Lazio have also been eliminated from the competition. They have also failed to pick up a win in the tournament this season and will now fight it out with Celtic to finish third in the four-team group.
Celtic youth struggles in Europe continue
Celtic staff will stress that these matches are all about development rather than the end result in matches, but it’s still a disappointment that the youths have been unable to compete effectively with the other academy outfits. Today’s result is the heaviest defeat of this year’s group so far for the Bhoys.
Celtic’s U19s have never managed to make it out of this stage of the continental tournament since its inception almost a decade ago.
Their best run came in 2015/16 when they overcame HJK and Puskas Akademia in the Domestic Champions Path before being knocked out by Valencia.
It’s been a tough campaign for these youngsters all around with the team also currently sitting in 10th position in the Scottish Lowland Football League, well below their usual form in that division over the last couple of seasons.
Matches against Lazio and Feyenoord are still ahead. A win in either game would ensure a better points total compared to the 2022/23 Youth League group, so hopefully they can at least manage that, and then power ahead into a much better second half of the season.
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