Valencia 1-0 Celtic (3-0 agg): Jeremy Toljan dismissal hampers Hoops

Ten-man Celtic were dumped out of the Europa League in the round of 32 for the second season running as a 1-0 defeat confirmed a 3-0 aggregate victory for Valencia on Thursday.

Celtic's hopes of overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit were dashed inside 36 minutes at the Mestalla when Jeremy Toljan was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Valencia capitalised on their man advantage as substitute Kevin Gameiro scored the winner two minutes after coming off the bench.

Celtic travelled to Valencia needing a first competitive win on Spanish soil to progress, and an assured start gave them hope of reaching the last 16.

Kristoffer Ajer had two swipes at a chance inside ten minutes but blazed over from close range after his initial effort was blocked.

Celtic contained Valencia in the opening 36 minutes, registering eight attempts on goal to the hosts' none. But their positive start evaporated in an instant.

Having tugged back on Goncalo Guedes ten minutes earlier, Toljan was given his marching orders after impeding the Portuguese as tried to run in behind.

With the extra man, Valencia piled pressure on the Celtic goal before the interval but two sublime saves from Scott Bain to deny Dani Parejo and Santi Mina kept the hosts at bay.

It was backs against the wall for Celtic in the second half, as Valencia attacked in waves at the start of the second period. Jozo Simunovic cleared Mina's cross off his own goal line before Ruben Sobrino somehow failed to convert Daniel Wass' teasing cross from close range.

Bain was well positioned to keep out Wass' looping volley before Celtic created their best chance of the game. Ryan Christie's whipped free-kick from the left found Ajer free at the near post, but the centre-back fired a header over from six yards shortly after the hour mark.

Celtic were made to pay as Gameiro sealed Valencia's progress on 69 minutes. The Frenchman ghosted into space in the area and was on hand to stroke home from close range after Wass had headed Parejo's diagonal back into the six-yard box, ending Celtic's European adventure in the process.

Opta stats

• Valencia have won each of their last six games in the UEFA Europa League at Mestalla, winning those six games by an aggregate score of 18-2.
• Celtic haven't won a knockout game away from home in European competition since April 2003 (1-0 v Boavista in the UEFA Cup/Europa League) - they have lost eight of their nine such games since (D1), while failing to score on all nine occasions.
• Celtic have never won away from home against a Spanish opponent in European competition (P18 W0 D3 L15), including losing each of their three trips to face Valencia.
• Celtic have failed to score in consecutive European games (incl. knockout-outs) for the first time since September 2016.
• Jeremy Toljan was the second Celtic player to receive a red card in this season's Europa League after James Forrest's sending off against Red Bull Salzburg in October - only Sevilla and Lazio have been shown more red cards in the competition in 2018-19 (3 each).
• Eight of Kevin Gameiro's 10 goal involvements for Valencia this season in all competitions have come in his last 12 appearances (4 goals 4 assists), managing two in 21 before that in 2018-19.

What's next?

Celtic look to consolidate their eight-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership when they host Motherwell on Sunday (3pm GMT). Valencia also return to La Liga action on Sunday with a trip to Leganes (11am GMT).

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