CELTIC’S thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City last night provided the latest example of the different beast the Hoops become at Parkhead compared to when they’re on the road.
After receiving a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona a fortnight ago, Brendan Rodgers’ side became the first team to stop City from winning since Pep Guardiola took charge in the summer.
Stage fright when leaving Glasgow is nothing new to Celtic fans, as this has been a consistent thorn in the side for the Hoops over the last 15 years.
In total, the Bhoys have lost only three times in 25 matches at Parkhead in the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition since 2001.
With 16 home wins and three draws to their name in the last 15 years, Celtic Park’s atmosphere has spurred players onto famous victories over the likes of Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan.
In contrast, the club's away results don’t make for happy reading. Celtic have won only one game in 25 attempts in the Champions League group stages over that period, against Spartak Moscow in 2012.
Not only that, but a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp against Barca in 2004 is the only time other than that when they’ve managed to avoid defeat, with 23 losses in 25 away games overall.
There have been three separate seasons when the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Hoops’ performances on the continent have been laid bare, as in 2001, 2006 and 2007 Celtic won all of their home games and lost all their away games.
Rodgers earned plaudits last night for his side’s performance against an in-form City team, but the Northern Irishman’s biggest test yet will be attempting to break the hoodoo of an away trip in Europe, which continues to haunt his side.
2001
Home: Three wins (Celtic 1-0 Porto, Celtic 1-0 Rosenborg, Celtic 4-3 Juventus)
Away: Three defeats (Juventus 3-2 Celtic, Porto 3-0 Celtic, Rosenborg 2-0 Celtic)
2003
Home: Two wins (Celtic 2-0 Lyon, Celtic 3-1 Anderlecht), one draw (Celtic 0-0 Bayern Munich)
Away: Three defeats (Bayern Munich 2-1 Celtic, Anderlecht 1-0 Celtic, Lyon 3-2 Celtic)
2004
Home: One win (Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk), one draw (Celtic 0-0 Milan), one defeat (Celtic 1-3 Barcelona)
Away: Two defeats (Milan 3-1 Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 Celtic), one draw (Barcelona 1-1 Celtic)
2006
Home: Three wins (Celtic 1-0 Copenhagen, Celtic 3-0 Benfica, Celtic 1-0 Manchester United)
Away: Three defeats (Manchester United 3-2 Celtic, Benfica 3-0 Celtic, Copenhagen 3-1 Celtic)
2007
Home: Three wins (Celtic 2-1 Milan, Celtic 1-0 Benfica, Celtic 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk)
Away: Three defeats (Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Celtic, Benfica 1-0 Celtic, Milan 1-0 Celtic)
2008
Home: One win (Celtic 2-0 Villarreal), two draws (Celtic 0-0 Aalborg, Celtic 1-1 Manchester United)
Away: Three defeats (Villarreal 1-0 Celtic, Manchester United 3-0 Celtic, Aalborg 2-1 Celtic)
2012
Home: Two wins (Celtic 2-1 Barcelona, Celtic 2-1 Spartak Moscow), one draw (Celtic 0-0 Benfica)
Away: One win (Spartak Moscow 2-3 Celtic), two defeats (Barcelona 2-1 Celtic, Benfica 2-1 Celtic)
2013
Home: One win (Celtic 2-1 Ajax), two defeats (Celtic 0-1 Barcelona, Celtic 0-3 Milan)
Away: Three defeats (Milan 2-0 Celtic, Ajax 1-0 Celtic, Barcelona 6-1 Celtic)
2016
Home: One draw (Celtic 3-3 Manchester City)
Away: One defeat (Barcelona 7-0 Celtic)
TOTAL
Home: 16 wins, six draws, three defeats
Away: One win, one draw, 23 defeats
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