Celtic 1 - Celta Vigo 0

Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen; Agathe (Sylla 85'), Lennon, Sutton, Petrov, Guppy (Thompson 83'); Larsson, Hartson. 3-5-2.
Celta: Pinto; Méndez, Sergio, Berizzo, Juanfran; José Ignacio, Luccin; Gustavo López (McCarthy 83'), Mostovoi, Sylvinho; Catanha (Edu 50'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 52. Larsson. Header on goal line after Balde knocked back corner.

A second half headed goal from Henrick Larsson gave Celtic a 1-0 victory over Celta and left the Spaniards with an uphill battle for the second leg. The Swedish striker was on hand to force the ball over the line after Balde headed back a corner seven minutes after the restart, and with the visitors failing to score they now have to win by a two goal margin in the Balaidos stadium to reach the next round.

Lotina's side went close early on, with Douglas saving from Gustavo López in the opening minutes and a low ball in from Sylvinho not finding any takers. The Scots should have scored on two occasions though, the first when a clearance ricocheted off Guppy's face just over the bar and then when Agathe shot over the top with the goal at his mercy after Pinto had pushed the ball straight to him.

Lotina had taken a risk giving Pinto the goalkeeper's jersey for European matches in place of Cavallero, but the keeper was looking shaky and hesitated when the corner came over leading to Larsson's sixth goal of the competition. He did however make up for in part stopping the striker when he got through later on, and a crucial tackle by Méndez prevented Hartson from extending the home side's lead as well. Celta's future in Europe though this season depends on them bouncing back in the second leg, and with Mostovoi admitting he is feeling jaded and Catanha suspended for that match, right now that looks like a remote possibility.