Christopher Nkunku produced a masterful performance to deal a huge blow to Celtic's chances of qualification for the Champions League knock-out stages.

The Chelsea target gave RB Leipzig a first-half lead and was a nuisance all night for Ange Postecoglou's side. 

Jota equalised just after the break but it proved to be nothing but a consolation as an Andre Silva brace put the tie to bed. 

The result means that Leipzig leapfrog the Hoops into third place in Group F, and with second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk facing champions Real Madrid back-to-back, secure a great opportunity to usurp the Ukrainians. 

  • Story of the match

Leipzig made just one change from the weekend, David Raum replacing Marcel Halstenberg in defence. Lukas Klostermann, Konrad Laimer and Dani Olmo were ruled out. 

For Celtic, first-choice central defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt were ruled out, Giorgos Giakoumakis was only deemed fit enough for the bench and Liel Abada did not travel due to religious reasons. 

The hosts had two chances in the first two minutes, a ricochet from a one-two between Nkunku and Timo Werner before the Frenchman smashed wide from a Mohamed Simakan cross. 

After those early exchanges, the first half was an end-to-end affair that the home side edged slightly. 

Nkunku thought he had given them the lead with an exquisite dink over Joe Hart after just 17 minutes, however, it was ruled out for offside after a VAR check. 

Just ten minutes later he punished the visitors, rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home off of the inside of the post from Silva’s perfectly weighted pass. 

Celtic had chances either side of the opener, but Reo Hatate failed to capitalise on an open goal after Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci overextended and injured himself with a clearance from a careless Werner back-pass. 

Daizen Maeda found Kyogo Furuhashi in the box but Leipzig’s replacement stopper Janis Blaswich produced a fantastic save to deny the Japanese forward, Greg Taylor then had a shot well saved before another Kyogo effort was deflected wide after more poor passing from the hosts. 

One blow for the visitors was the loss of Callum McGregor 37 minutes into the contest, replaced by Oliver Abildgaard

The Bhoys were level just two minutes into the second half, Hatate found Kyogo who squared the ball to Jota who made no mistake one-on-one with Blaswich. 

Dominik Szoboszlai nearly restored Leipzig’s lead, hitting the post after a beautiful move from the hosts. Just minutes later he thought he had when he cut inside and curled a shot into the bottom right corner but Silva was ruled to have obstructed the Celtic goalkeeper's view. 

The Hungarian would play a key part in Leipzig regaining the lead 37 seconds later, Hart giving the ball right to him and he fed the ball to Silva who fired in off the post from close range. 

Werner and Kevin Kampl were then replaced by Emil Forsberg and Amadou Haidara after 71 minutes. 

The visitors attempted to add some fresh impetus with James Forrest and Sead Haksabanovic replacing Maeda and Matt O'Riley but they were helpless as Simakan volleyed Nkunku’s long pass into the feet of Silva, who smashed home to put the game beyond them.

Both sides made late substitutions with Yussuf Poulsen and Halstenberg replacing Raum and Szoboszlai for the hosts and Giannis Giakoumakis and James McCarthy replacing Kyogo and Hatate for Celtic. 

The result means that Leipzig are in pole position to snatch second place in the group, as Shakhtar face Madrid twice in quick succession. 

A huge blow for Celtic, but qualification is still a possibility if they can win at home in the reverse fixture. 

  • Player of the match

Christopher Nkunku

A truly sublime performance from the 24-year-old. 

His composure and finishing for his goal was world-class but it was his long-range pass for the third goal which should get all the plaudits. 

It was inch perfect with the right amount of pace to Simakan's feet for the assist for Silva's second and the goal that put the result of the contest beyond doubt. 

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