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They did not go quietly into the night. Heads held high, Brendan Rodgers’ side made a dignified exit from the Europa League in Valencia. As per their manager’s instruction, they died with their boots on.
It was an occasion on which a sense of pride was mixed with bitter regret at what might have been.
The better side until Jeremy Toljan was sent off for two bookable offences inside 37 minutes, the kind of misjudgements that made this assignment so ominous for Celtic in the first place did for them again.
Kevin Gameiro came off the bench to kill of hopes of a stay of execution in Europe for Celtic
The Scots were better for much of the contest but Gameiro ensured that Valencia progressed
Celtic’s job became far tougher before the break when Jeremy Toljan was shown a red card
The on-loan full-back picked up two bookings in a 10-minute first half spell and was sent off
It proved another disappointing night in Europe for Brendan Rodgers during his time at Celtic
With a full compliment of players on the field, the arrival of an all-important first goal for the visitors appeared to be edging nearer when calamity struck the German defender.
Rodgers’ depleted side strived manfully to continue to take the game to the Spaniards thereafter but found their minds willing but their bodies increasingly weak.
The fact not a single man in green could have given more was lost on no one who travelled here more in hope than expectation.
Amid the dejection felt about the 16th game of their European run this season being their last, Rodgers and his players will take no little consolation from their refusal to simply bow to the inevitable.
The players lined up inside the famous Mestalla stadium with Valencia holding the advantage
Celtic’s players issued a rallying cry in a pre-match huddle knowing they needed two goals
Unlike in Glasgow, they created several chances on the night. Had one of them rested behind Valencia keeper Neto with the score level, a Houdini-like escape might well have been on the cards.
They were still just about in the contest for 68 minutes when Daniel Parejo executed the pass of the game and Kevin Gameiro ended Celtic’s hopes with his first touch of the affair. It was no less cruel for its inevitability.
Already deep into nothing-to-lose territory before a ball was kicked, Rodgers shaped with a back five. Emilio Izaguirre, unsurprisingly, made way for Jonny Hayes with Scott Sinclair effectively sacrificed to accommodate Kristoffer Ajer as a third-central defender.
Marcelino, the home coach, introduced Goncalo Guedes, Carlos Soler and Ferran Torres to the side which won in Glasgow and the presence of skipper Parejo, utterly sublime one week back, underpinned a side brimming with intent.
The Scottish champions started far stronger as Kristoffer Ajer was afforded an early chance
Valencia manager Marcelino quickly urged calm from his players with Celtic in the ascendancy
Even little more than half-full, what a backdrop the Mestalla makes on night such as these.
The old place may not be in its first flush of youth – a replacement remains under construction – but its vast vertical banks still retain the capacity to make grown men tremble with fear. Celtic can take solace from the fact that they did not wilt.
For the vast majority of the travelling supporters housed high in one corner, a telescope would have been required to discern events unfolding on the lush expanse below.
It started promisingly enough. Both the shape and personnel Rodgers selected worked markedly better than seven days previously.
Within three minutes Oliver Burke picked the ponderous Mouctar Diakhaby’s pocket only to run the ball out of play as he threatened to go clear on goal.
Attack was the best form of defence for the visitors as James Forrest contests for a header
The Spaniards showed last week in Glasgow their skill as they soon looked to get on the ball
Scott Brown’s tenacity then allowed Ryan Christie to drive forward and feed Hayes.
The wing-back bobbed and weaved around Daniel Wass before drilling a low shot into Neto’s arms from an angle.
More industry by Hayes down the left won a corner off the outstretched Wass. Christie’s floater to the back post gave Ajer two bites at the cherry. The Norwegian chastised himself for sending the second just over the bar.
Dedryck Boyata was the first man to blink. An undercooked pass to Jozo Simunovic gifted Ruben Sobrino an unwarranted look at the target but, mercifully for Scott Bain, the scorer of the second goal in Glasgow fluffed his lines and blasted well wide.
Burke’s pace on the counter-attack continually worried the Spaniards. When James Forrest won the ball on the edge of his own box, the striker ran onto his pass only to be forced to check back through a lack of support.
Ezequiel Garay blocked the striker’s effort but injured himself in the process. Francis Coquelin was sprung from the bench to replace him.
Brown was tigerish but had to curb his enthusiasm after picking up a booking for a rather needless flattening of Guedes with Toljan soon following suit for pulling back Lato.
On-loan Borussia Dortmund defender Toljan was in the book early as his discipline went awry
Callum McGregor was positive in the early stages, looking to break Valencia’s lines at the back
By and large, though, Celtic were drilled and disciplined. Their ball possession and bravery were equally as commendable.
When Toljan fed Forrest, the winger’s cross deserved better than Hayes’ cheap foul on Wass with the target glaring. Burke then salvaged another cause that appeared to be lost.
Christie’s consequent strike bounced off Parejo and wide. Simunovic climbed above a ruck of white shirts to claim Christie’s corner. Neto gratefully clutched the bouncing ball to his chest.
When Hayes controlled Forrest’s cross and drop-kicked a shot into the side-net, hopes of finding the all-important first goal rose in the visiting ranks. But then disaster struck.
Caught wrong side of Guedes, Toljan’s appreciation of the consequence of fouling the £35m man didn’t not prevent him doing the deed. The German was walking before the second yellow and the red card came out of the referee’s pocket.
Chances continued to arise for Celtic and Jonny Hayes had his head in his hands after missing
Toljan’s discipline proved costly again as the colour changed from yellow to red on 36 minutes
The remaining minutes of the first half became attack against defence. Bain was exposed to a roll call of would-be assassins clad in white. Guedes’ curling effort flew a foot wide of the far post in between spectacular saves to deny Parejo and Santi Mina.
Somehow Rodgers’ diminished band made it back up the tunnel just about alive in the tie.
Doubtless smarting from some stern words from their manager at the break, Valencia re-emerged with a greater sense of purpose. Simunovic’s smart positioning on the line prevented Mina from converting from six yards. With Celtic struggling to get out, Bain had to watch Wass’ guided volley like his life depended on it.
Ajer’s wriggle through three challenges sent Burke on a foot race with Diakhaby. Just as the Scot thought he’d won it, the Frenchman extended a telescopic leg to thwart him.
Blameless in that instance, a misjudgement by the player in possession forced Hayes to take out the advancing Torres at the cost of a yellow card.
His side bowed out with a positive performance but Rodgers was left frustrated at the exit
Celtic’s inconsistency in Europe has proved their biggest Achilles heel as they crashed out
The slither of luck Celtic craved on the night proved to be a stranger. Christie’s in-swinging free-kick gave Ajer the run on his marker but his solid connection flew onto the roof of the net.
The issue was settled by a move of such quality and simplicity it deserved framing.
One majestic swish of Parejo’s right-boot took out the entire Celtic back-line. Despite a suggestion of offside, Wass nodded across goal.
This time there was no reprieve for Bain as Gameiro applied the conversion from six yards. Finally, the game was up.
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