Celtic were eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers after losing on penalties to Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. Despite dominating domestically and previously competing well against top European sides like Bayern Munich, they couldn’t find the extra quality needed across the two legs. Both matches ended goalless, and Celtic eventually fell short in the penalty shootout.

The match: Missed chances and lack of spark

The tie across two games told a frustrating story. Kairat were stubborn, organised, and offered little attacking threat. However, Celtic, despite controlling 67% of possession, failed to find the killer edge.

James Forrest, Yang, and Daizen Maeda started the attack, later joined by Adam Idah and Arne Engels. Yet chances were scarce. Maeda’s miss in the 85th minute was the clearest opening, a strike that flew over the bar and summed up Celtic’s lack of composure.

Aiden McGeady described the display as ‘not good enough�?and blamed poor planning. John Collins pointed to weak set-pieces and limited creativity and questioned why no top attacking signings had been made.

Despite more shots and passes than their hosts, Celtic’s expected goals were just 0.5. Against a team ranked 311th in Europe, compared to their own 56th, that statistic highlighted the gulf between possession and productivity.

The stakes: More than just defeat

Missing out on the Champions League is a huge financial blow.

• Champions League qualification = approx. �?8m (£15.5m) in prize money, plus extra revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise.
• Europa League fallback = only around �?m (£3.46m), with smaller bonuses for wins and progression.

The setback is not only sporting but also financial, as the gulf between Champions League and Europa League earnings is massive.

The bigger picture: A wake-up call

This loss wasn’t just about one bad night. It exposed deeper issues: lack of quality in the final third, weak recruitment, and missed opportunities in the transfer market. For many fans, the defeat was a sobering reminder of how far Celtic still needs to go to compete consistently at this level.

The timing makes the setback even sharper. Celtic’s next game is the season’s first Old Firm clash against Rangers. A win could steady nerves, but a poor result might fuel frustration. 

Rebuilding from the blow

Celtic’s Champions League exit represents a financial and morale hit. Rodgers has called for unity, but questions remain about whether the squad has enough depth and firepower to move forward.

The Europa League offers a chance for redemption, but the real challenge lies in how Celtic rebuilds from here, both on the pitch and in their transfer dealings. The bigger question is: can Celtic turn this setback into a springboard, or will it mark another season of missed opportunities in Europe?

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Manchester United’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final didn’t just cost them a trophy—it also means they won’t be playing in the Champions League next season. This could cause big problems for their summer transfer plans.

Two possible signings that might be affected are Viktor Gyökeres, worth £55 million, and Liam Delap, estimated at £30 million. Both players are looking for clubs playing in the Champions League, so United’s failure to qualify could stop these deals from happening.

Football legend Rio Ferdinand shared his worries after the match, saying, ‘That recruitment list they had will have to be scrapped now because they are not going to have Champions League football. It is a completely different list to recruit from.�?/p>

Because of money limits and not being in Europe’s top tournament, Manchester United may have to rethink their transfer plans for next season. 

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Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 with AFC Bournemouth in an intense match at home. Bournemouth seized the lead in the early game. Marcus Tavernier scored in the 42nd minute, while Evanilson made it 2-0 in the 65th minute. Even with the tension, the Spurs did not give up.

Late action unfolds

Spurs turned the game around after Pape Sarr’s lucky goal in the 67th minute. Sarr’s cross went wrong but caught Bournemouth’s keeper off guard. That goal gave the Spurs hope, and in the last minutes, Son Heung-min was brought down in the box, earning a penalty. Son stepped up and scored, making his first goal in ten games. This late goal aided the Spurs in earning a big draw. The team shows passion and belief, which can motivate them for future matches.

Ange Postecoglou, the coach of Spurs, commended his players for their game but said they still need to practice and pass the ball better as their next match was against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, a crucial game for the team. He even asked their fans to cheer the team loudly to strengthen its spirit. With support from the fans, the Spurs might turn their season around.

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Ayoub El Kaabi is the top scorer of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League after the group stage, with seven goals. The Olympiacos forward secured his spot with two goals against Qarabağ on Matchday 8. 

Barnabás Varga of Ferencváros follows closely with six goals. Meanwhile, four players: Rasmus Højlund, Samu Aghehowa, Yunus Akgün, and Victor Osimhen, have tied with five goals each, keeping the race for the tournament’s top scorer open.

Race for the top scorer

El Kaabi caught up to the leading scorers on Matchday 7 and cemented his lead on Matchday 8 with a second-half brace. Varga had started strong with five goals in five games but failed to score in Matchdays 6 and 7. However, his penalty in Ferencváros�?win over AZ Alkmaar brought his total to six.

Manchester United’s Højlund joined the five-goal group after scoring twice in a 2-1 win against Viktoria Plzeň. Porto’s Aghehowa and Galatasaray’s Akgün reached five goals in the same match week. Osimhen added his fifth in stoppage time during Galatasaray’s loss to Ajax on Matchday 8.

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