INJURY-RAVAGED Celtic made it twenty journeys to Spain with out a win in an unbelievable topsy-turvy Europa League opener.

Ange Postecoglou’s side wished to make historical past in Seville – the town that’s inextricably linked with their European previous.

Celtic star Anthony Ralston appears dejectedCredit score: Reuters

And an unbelievable begin noticed them two up inside 27 minutes when Albian Ajeti then Josip Juranovic’s penalty put them in dreamland.

However Betis got here roaring again with a double from Juan Miranda and Juanmi within the house of three first-half minutes – and strikes from Borja Iglesias and Juanmi once more in the same second-half spell.

Tony Ralston headed in Celtic’s third however they couldn’t snatch a dramatic level from an engrossing, dramatic, nervy sport performed in a loud, hostile surroundings.

As soon as Betis overcame their early sloppiness, they dominated – however Celtic will surprise how the night time would’ve gone had they confirmed extra defensive solidity after that nice begin.

Postecoglou’s beginning line-up had underlined the paucity of options he had out there to him.

With Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, James Forrest and Georgios Giakoumakis all unavailable, his choice had an experimental look about it.

Ismaila Soro got here in for his first begin in 9 video games, whereas teenager Adam Montgomery made his first begin of the season. Joe Hart captained the facet.

Of the 9 subs listed, the outfield gamers had made simply six European begins between them and solely James McCarthy – the one Celts sub used – might have been seen as offering a purpose menace.

It didn’t make for optimistic studying for the Group G opener, however Postecoglou’s patchwork staff began sensationally, penning a hesitant-looking dwelling facet again in their very own field and racing right into a two-goal lead.

The house facet hadn’t saved a clear sheet this season and a comical opening half-hour confirmed why.

After simply two minutes, Tom Rogic’s go despatched winger Jota in on purpose however dwelling ‘keeper Claudio Bravo raced out to grab the ball from his ft.

It was a slack second and Betis’ openness and normal defensive lethargy acquired its comeuppance when Celtic went forward after 13 minutes.

Jota’s trickery on the precise created the house and though Victor Ruiz acquired to the ball first, he performed it off Ajeti into the Betis internet.

Referee Fran Jovic initially dominated the purpose out for handball, however after a test the German VAR confirmed the legitimacy of it to the official.

Betis tried to reply instantly and Hart made an important diving save to his proper from Andres Guardado’s header.

On a sizzling and humid night, the ambiance within the Benito Villamarin Stadium was equally oppressive – and the house facet reacted with fury after 20 minutes after they believed Celtic ought to have diminished to 10 males.

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Ismaila Soro had already been booked for a foul on Nabil Fekir when he went in on Betis skipper Joaquin.

The referee allowed play to proceed however Betis had been enraged when the ball lastly went out and he didn’t administer a second yellow.

It appeared a let-off for the Ivorian and the blue-shirted Betis gamers clustered round referee Jovic – however a reserving for Guardado for dissent was the one card he confirmed.

With the house facet persevering with to look shaky, Celtic incomprehensibly went two forward after 27 minutes – from the penalty spot.

Rogic and Turnbull mixed and when Ajeti went by way of on purpose he reached the ball forward of keeper Claudio Bravo however was clearly cleaned out by the keeper’s trailing leg.

Josip Juranovic stayed calm as the house followers cranked up the noise and bulleted the penalty into the nook of the web.

Extremely, it might have been three of their subsequent assault.

Jota once more escaped his marker Juan Miranda and tried to chip Bravo however the keeper made a determined block and Ajeti couldn’t flip the free ball dwelling.

But it surely was end-to-end motion and Hart was pressured into one other nice save, touching Miranda’s shot in opposition to the publish.

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That gave the house facet hope that the sport wasn’t lifeless – and the weird nature of the encounter was such that inside seven minutes of being two targets in entrance, Celtic’s good work was undone and the sport was stage.

First Miranda superior from full-back and after good build-up play by Juanmi, he side-footed dwelling.

Now it was Celtic’s flip to wobble – and three minutes after Betis’ first, they had been on stage phrases.

Borja Iglesias sprung the Celtic defensive position and as Hart superior, he handed for Juanmi to fit into an empty internet.

The stadium pretty crackled with pleasure through the interval and any prospect of the drama letting up after the re-start rapidly evaporated.

Within the opening seven minutes, each side had probabilities to attain and Betis established a two-goal benefit.

Ajeti blazed over from Rogic’s go then on the different finish Juanmi was simply unable to succeed in Miranda’s cross.

However Betis had the initiative and Iglesias put them forward with a near-post end from Sergio Canales’ cross.

Worse adopted for Celtic two minutes later. The guests did not clear a nook and Juanmi’s drive went in off the bottom of Hart’s publish.

Rogic noticed a volley rebound from the Betis publish following Jota’s cross and Iglesias’ drive fizzed throughout the face of purpose – and Celtic ensured an anxious ending for the house followers when Ralston headed in Turnbull’s free-kick.

However they only couldn’t discover that fourth which might’ve made it a Seville sensation.