But for the watching millions and those inside the Hoops’ home stadium, it was a night to remember as two teams traded blows in a pulsating Champions League clash.
This morning’s press reaction reflects the game which, for Celtic fans in particular, will live long on the memory.
The Daily Record take a musical hook in their report on events in Glasgow, writing: “Celtic had Rod Stewart in the stands while Manchester City brought Noel Gallagher. No wonder Parkhead was absolutely rocking.
“The pair have played to millions although both of them won’t forget last night in a hurry because this was one of the great European nights.
“Celtic Park has seen more than a few, such as the 2-0 win against Zurich – 50 years ago to the day – that started the historic run to Lisbon.
But half a century on and this was up there with the very best as both sides decided to roll with it.”
Not bad!
The Daily Mail’s Stephen McGowan continues the theme: “It was an embrace born of mutual respect. When the final whistle blew on an engrossing, remarkable game of football, Pep Guardiola and Brendan Rodgers came together like a pair of sweating, heavyweight sluggers.
“For 90 minutes, Celtic and Manchester City exchanged haymakers with brutal intent. They gave their all. When it was over, Scotland’s champions pulled themselves off the ropes, bruised, bloodied and standing tall.
“The financial chasm between these clubs is unbridgeable. Yet this was a night when Rodgers and his team asked more questions of Pep’s City in the first 25 minutes than the English Premier League have managed in six games.
“Not bad for the leaders of a pub league.”
Great report and well worth reading in full.
Reuters continue the reporting that matched the entertainment on show last night, writing: “The Premier League’s only remaining unbeaten records are on the line on Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur will hope to follow Celtic and inflict another dent in Manchester City’s superb start to the campaign.
“The City juggernaut had crushed all before them, winning every competitive game they had played this season, until they were held to a surprise 3-3 draw with Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“That result, and the way the Scottish side exposed chinks in City’s defensive armour, will have given a fillip to Tottenham, fresh from a crucial Champions League win in Moscow, before England’s top two clash at White Hart Lane.”
No doubt Spurs represent the Blues’ toughest test of the campaign yet and Sky Sports have uncovered another reason to feel edgy about Sunday’s trip to North London.
They write: “Mauricio Pochettino’s managerial career began with Espanyol in 2009, with his first win coming soon after. Remarkably, it was against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Manchester City, Adam Bate revisits the story...
‘I don’t know how we did it,’ said Mauricio Pochettino, recalling the night in February 2009 when he secured the first win of his coaching career. ‘Espanyol were bottom and Barcelona were top, and all the people were saying Espanyol were dead and had no chance. It was a special victory and an unbelievable memory.’
More media gossip and weekend build-up tomorrow. Until then…
