Celts exit Europe with a scrap of respect
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Match Report: Fenerbahce 1-1 Celtic

In a night where individual errors again threatened to cost Celtic in Europe, a goal from Kris Commons helped earn his side a point, prompting Gordon Strachan to label the English-born forward as "Better than Diego", the Brazilian magician whose sending off changed the game.

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Fenerbahce started positively, with Celtic sitting deep, putting together a number of one-twos with Diego moving very cleverly between the lines. It took the home side minutes to create the first chance, with Gordon unconvincingly tipping Topal's strike onto the post.

The visitors were working hard as they shuffled around the pitch trying to stop the Turks, but it was clear they lacked the pace or quality on the ball to provide a regular threat of their own. Despite this, Bitton showed a moment of quality to put Cifcti through on goal with a defence-splitting pass, only for the former Dundee United striker to hesitate and allow Ba to clear the danger.

Fenerbahce relied on another effort from distance, with Gordon parrying Diego's dipping effort into danger, recovering in time to deflect Souza's effort away from goal.

The killer moment came on 25 mins, and it looked all too familiar. A straight-forward ball over the defence released Markovic, who was able to prod home the opener after Craig Gordon leapt in anticipation of a shot from the Serbian, only to see the ball roll through his legs. It's this kind of individual error that has come to define Celtic's European campaign.

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With the first half drawing to a close, The Bhoys briefly threatened as Mikel Lustig's deflected effort looped towards goal, only to spin wide of the post just as it was looking slightly hopeful.

The second half showed why players like Kris Commons and James Forrest are so vital for Celtic in Europe as, with Diego being sent off for a petulant kick, both began to have an influence from the bench.
While both clearly have their limitations, Forrest provides the pace and direct running required to create chances, with Commons providing the movement and composure to take them.

And indeed it was Commons who hit the equaliser. A well-worked move saw Boyata release Lustig on the right-hand side, with the Swede providing a perfect delivery for Commons to nod past Fabiano.

From then, Forrest began to get space on the left, with his ability to get into space and run at defenders creating shooting chances for himself, and for team-mate Callum McGregor.
It was the combination of Commons and Forrest that almost produced a penalty. With Celtic growing in confidence, and the home side retreating towards goal, Forrest controlled Commons' cross-field pass, which appeared to be blocked by the arm of the Fenerbahce skipper.

In the end, the draw suited both teams. The home side ensuring progress to the knock-out stages, and the visitors seeing out the group with a respectable point.