The Biggest Wins in Celtic’s History

The Biggest Wins in Celtic’s History

Alongside their bitter Old Firm rivals, Celtic are the biggest football team in Scotland by some distance. As such, they have regularly featured in European competitions, representing their country on the biggest stage.

The Bhoys have managed several high-profile wins in the process as we are just about to recall some of the biggest scalps they’ve claimed in Europe throughout history.

1 – Celtic vs Manchester United 1-0 (November 2006)

‘Celtic came up with a great performance in the UEFA Champions League group phase opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford, losing narrowly 3-2 on the occasion’ remember Tyler Morris head of football at BettingTips4You. That display gave them wings and much-needed confidence ahead of the remainder of the competition. The Bhoys needed a win in the reverse game on the home patch in Matchday No. 5 to advance to the knockout phase. They indeed got one against a full-strength Red Devils side thanks to a phenomenal free kick from their main star Shunsuke Nakamura in the late stages of the affair. Interestingly, both outfits were eliminated in the knockout phase by Kaka-led AC Milan.

2 – Celtic vs Real Madrid 2-0 (March 1980)

Celtic’s European presence started to decline in the 1980s but not before they clinched a famous victory over Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid. Los Blancos visited Parkhead for the first leg of the European Cup quarterfinal in March 1980. The Spaniards entered the tie as enormous favorites with the likes of Laurie Cunningham and Vicente del Bosque in their ranks.

Nevertheless, the Hoops came clutch in the second half of the affair as George McCluskey and John Doyle secured them a two-goal advantage ahead of the reverse tie in the Spanish capital. Sadly for the Bhoys, this advantage was not enough as Real Madrid still advanced to the semifinal of the elite continental competition via a 3-0 victory in the rematch.

3 – Celtic vs Barcelona 2-1 (November 2012)

The 2012 Barcelona were near the peak of its power with Lionel Messi in his best years. Nevertheless, Celtic found a cure for their famous tiki-taka game in the group stage of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League campaign. The Bhoys only lost the first match at the Camp Nou after conceding a 94th-minute goal.

In the rematch at Celtic Park, the Hoops kept the dominant Catalans at bay as Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt made the difference with their goals on the opposite end of the pitch. We must mention goalkeeper Fraser Foster who has probably produced his best-ever performance on the occasion.

4 – Celtic vs AC Milan 2-1 (October 2007)

We have already mentioned Celtic’s knockout phase elimination at the hands of AC Milan in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League campaign. I Rossoneri went on to win the title on the occasion. The draw for the following season joined the two teams in the same group as Celtic’s players were super-motivated to get their revenge against the reigning champions.

Kaka's penalty kick canceled Stephen McManus' opener early in the second half but Scott McDonald found a super-late winner in the 90th minute of the game to help the Bhoys get another big European scalp. Celtic once again advanced to the knockout phase but only to be stopped on the first obstacle, this time by Barcelona.

5 – Celtic vs Inter Milan 2-1 (May 1967)

We will finish the article with the biggest of Celtic’s wins. It came in the team’s most successful season ever as the Bhoys managed to win the domestic league, domestic cup, domestic League Cup, Glasgow Cup, and the European Cup. Celtic became the maiden British team to win the elite continental competition as they dispatched two-time winners (then) Inter Milan via a 2-1 victory in the final in Lisbon. Archie Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers were the Scots’ heroes on the occasion.