Celtic 0 Aalborg 0IF THIS was supposed to be the simple part of Group E for Celtic, their supporters must have genuine concerns over what lies in wait when Manchester United and Villarreal arrive.
Aalborg's semi-stubborn resistance was sufficient to rebuff Gordon Strachan's side, the Danes even surviving the closing 11 minutes with 10 men.
They will harbour a genuine grievance after Michael Beauchamp was sent off in a clear case of mistaken identity. But claiming a point at a ground where more illustrious sides have failed should placate them.
Celtic, who squandered a first-half penalty, were uncannily sluggish.
Strachan could have derived both solace and anxiety from a pre-match glance at statistics. Celtic's flawless performances at home in the previous two seasons - six wins out of six in group matches - have been instrumental in their twice reaching the last 16.
The Scottish champions had, however, been defeated five times in a row in their first group match.
This game appeared distinctly more straightforward.
Bruce Rioch, famed for almost miraculous acts in resurrecting the fortunes of Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough, has stressed that the transfer fee that took Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United would pay his club's wages for seven years.
Yet the Danes gave anything but the impression of being in awe. Michael Jakobsen worried Artur Boruc with a fierce free-kick, before Jeppe Curth failed to fully control his shot when sent clean through.
Stephen McManus, the Celtic captain, summed up their anxiety with a late challenge and a 17th-minute booking.
Celtic's penalty chance on the half hour was fortuitous. Not only had they hardly been seen as an attacking threat at all before Steve Olfers tripped Shaun Maloney, but Maloney also appeared to handle the ball as he controlled Georgios Samaras's knock-down.
Perhaps justice was done as Karim Zaza saved Barry Robson's penalty-kick with his feet.
Celtic Park, which can be one of Europe's most intimidating arenas, echoed to cries of derision long before Strachan's men were booed off at the interval.
Celtic's attacking endeavours in the opening five minutes of the second half amounted to more than they had conjured up in the previous 45.
Scott Brown scooped a shot over the bar after a sweeping move, Samaras then coming much closer with a curling effort.
For several players it was a night worth forgetting. Scott McDonald spent more time engaging in fruitless attempts to win free-kicks and arguing with his team-mates than offering a goalscoring threat , while Samaras toiled to make any impact.
Desperate times called for Scotland's reigning player of the year, Aiden McGeady, who replaced McDonald with 27 minutes to play.
Controversy followed, Beauchamp wrongly dismissed after Michael Jakobsen hauled down Samaras as the Greek striker bore down on goal.
Nakamura's subsequent free-kick was brilliantly clawed away by Zaza in a moment that summed up Celtic's troubled evening.
CELTIC:Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72), McDonald (McGeady 63), Samaras. Subs not used: Mark Brown, Hartley, Wilson, Crosas, Loovens. Booked: McManus, Samaras.
AALBORG:Zaza, Beauchamp, Olfers, Jakobsen, Pedersen, Augustinussen, Curth (Lasse Nielsen 85), Johansson, Risgaard, Enevoldsen, Saganowski. Subs not used: Stenild, Due, Caca, Braemer, Kristensen, Ronnie Schwartz Nielsen. Sent off: Beauchamp (79). Booked: Johansson.
Referee:Matteo Trefoloni (Italy).
Guardian Service
