UEFA Cup Thursday November 22nd

Valencia 1

Celtic 0

1:0 Vicente 74

Att: 39,000

Ref: Domenico Mesina

Celtic: Douglas; McNamara, Mjallby, Balde, Crainey; Petrov, Lambert, Lennon, Moravcik (Petta 58); Larsson, Hartson (Sylla 79)

Valencia claims to play host to the Holy Grail, which for the Hoops was a place in the next round of the UEFA cup.

The Herculean task of overcoming the finalists from the Champions League for the past two seasons began in the Mestalla stadium with a weakened team, missing Agathe, Sutton and Valgaeren and giving young Stephen Crainey a baptism of fire on his Euro-debut. Celtic's welcome was as warm as that bestowed by El Cid on the Moors, with Valencia opening at pace and playing with venom. Balde and Mjallby were in danger of doing a personable impression of Sophia Loren's cleavage, before the team eventually settled and made some chances.

The travelling support were in fine fettle, on a freezing night that you wouldn't even send a son of William out into to meet the Inquisition (how ecumenical-the cold must have got to me). The home support offered little in the way of vocal intimidation as Petrov and Hartson squandered gilt-edged chances to put Celtic one up.

Valencia soon rallied and Rab D was called upon to pull off some heroics, pushing the ball onto the bar and the post as the Spaniards threatened to run amok.

Obviously, having learned his lesson in Oporto, O'Neill's 4-4-2 formation for the night was working overtime and holding out well, until Lennon inexplicably and inexcusably, put a hand on the ball. Vincente scored from the resultant set piece, kicking Celtic's hopes right in the Balearics.

One down with time ticking away and Sylla was brought on to shore things up. Amazingly, he almost managed to get through the home defence to level, but for the astute Canizares.

In retrospect I would easily have settled for this result before kick-off, but given the chances created, Celtic should have gathered an away goal. Sutton's absence was sorely felt. Rab D and Steven Crainey came of age as Celtic players and the 'keeper made this Euro-showing all the more respectable with his heroics.

Despite the press comments about the performance on our return and the fact that I watched this game through a haze of tapas and cheap beer, Celtic are more than a match for Valencia over two legs.