Celtic 3 Alashkert 0 (agg 6-0): Moussa Dembele double sends Hoops through but they face defensive crisis in Champions League
Jozo Simunovic red card adds to defensive worries for clash against Rosenborg in second round
CELTIC face a Champions League defensive crisis after stopper Jozo Simunovic was sent off against Alashkert.
Moussa Dembele scored twice against the Armenian side, with James Forrest adding a third to book Celts’ place in the next round, and a clash with old foes Rosenborg.
But Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops were forced to play 80 minutes with ten men after the Croat ace was shown a straight red card.
Simunovic will lserve an automatic one-match ban and miss next week’s second round first leg against Rosenborg.
Uefa’s disciplinary panel could even rule to INCREASE the suspension.
Rodgers groaned: “It gives us a problem but that’s all it’s been for us.
“Every pre-season there is always an issue with centre-halves.”
Simunovic was sent off for a raised foot challenge on Alashkert’s Brazilian forward Jefferson Reis.
Celts are still missing key defenders Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig who have not yet returned from World Cup duty.
German centre-half Marvin Compper is also crocked again and unlikely to be fit for next Wednesday’s first leg.