Celtic already had a mountain to climb against Atletico Madrid after going down to a goal from Antoine Griezmann early in the game. Still, the Hoops were looking more than decent and seemed capable of bringing things level. The red card received by Daizen Maeda virtually ended any hopes of that happening though.
Unfortunately, that is something that will dominate the Celtic headlines for quite some time to come. Not because Maeda got sent off in an important game but because it does not feel like he deserved to.
Even on replays, it looked like a very normal challenge. One which you would see tens of in any football match. And yet, it was enough for Maeda to be given his marching orders.
At this point, one has to wonder whether some decisions are being made just to justify the presence of VAR in modern football. Because to be honest, it is not adding much to the game and making things more complicated most of the time.
Referees end Celtic’s hopes against Atletico Madrid
Celtic did well to keep it at 1-0 for the majority of the first half before Alvaro Morata put the hosts two goals up right before the break. And with that, any hopes that the Hoops might have had of somehow salvaging a draw out of this game were over.
It should not have come to this point though. Maeda should have been on the pitch at that point and it should have been eleven against eleven at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Celtic will feel hard done by but there is nothing they can really do. And this is not to say that the Hoops definitely would have turned this game around if Maeda had remained on the pitch. It is quite likely they would have still lost. But at least, they would have had a chance.