Gary Lineker tells Celtic 'elusive' Champions League hoodoo end is in sight as Alan Shearer cools love-in with caveat

Gary Lineker reckons Celtic have never been as close to getting over their Champions League hoodoo as they were against Atletico Madrid.

Brendan Rodgers' men went toe-to-toe with the Spanish giants at Parkhead with goals from in-form Kyogo and Luis Palma being cancelled out by the class of Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata. Celtic are winless on their hallowed home turf in Europe's elite group competition for over a decade, and their last victory on away soil came under the Irishman back in 2017. But it wasn't to be against charismatic Diego Simeone and Co with Rodgers needing to put his European promise in to action in the remaining three games to search for Europa League solace.

Former England hero Lineker believes the hoodoo was almost over against Atleti, and that the two goals from the talismanic Japanese and new-found favourite Palma were 'excellent'. The Match of the Day host was joined by Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer in heaping massive praise on the famously 'special' Celtic Park atmosphere. But he reckons progression is looking like a very difficult task.

Lineker told the Rest is Football Podcast: “I’ve got to give a brief mention to Celtic because I thought that there was a good performance. They were so close to getting that win that has eluded them for so long at home there. And the two goals they scored were excellent. After three minutes, Kyogo.

"I’ve been to a few Champions League nights there when I covered them obviously for BT and, cor, that’s an atmosphere when it gets going. I saw them play Barcelona there are a couple of times, I think they won one of them actually, it’s special place. A draw against Atletico Madrid, it was a decent performance.”

Shearer added: “And they had a great start