Celtic and the astonishing 50 year Euro record that marks Atletico shame game anniversary with tinge of embarrassment

Today marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most notorious matches to be played – the first leg of the European Cup semi-final between Celtic and Atletico Madrid.

And former Hoops hero Mark McGhee is shocked to discover the number of sore ones suffered long after the bruises were gone. There was minimal football during a 0-0 draw at Parkhead remembered for the brutality of the La Liga champions. Jimmy Johnstone was a target of waist-high, studs-up challenges and by the final whistle Atletico had three players ordered off plus seven others booked.

Jock Stein’s men lost the return 2-0 but sealed a ninth straight Scottish title just three days later. But none of the 70,000 fans who witnessed the thuggery at Celtic Park realised they were also watching the curtain come down on a golden era. Celtic had beaten Inter Milan to win the European Cup in 1967 then lost to Feyenoord in the 1970 final.

As well as losing in the last four to Atleti, they exited to Inter at the same stage two years earlier. They lost to Argentina’s Racing Club in the 1967 Intercontinental Cup and reached the European Cup Winners’ Cup semis in 1964 and 1966.

However, in the 50 years since that night of shame, Celtic have only twice won a knockout round in Europe after Christmas – and not since 2004. What’s more, their European record in the last half-century has been poorer than Rangers. The Ibrox side have won Euro ties in the second half of seven seasons since then despite not competing at all between 2011 and 2017.

Rangers reached the finals of the 2008 UEFA Cup and Europa League in 2022, losing to Zenit and Frankfurt. They also had wins in 1993, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Aberdeen also did better, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup against