WISEGUYS AND FALLGUYS

Hoops left to sleep with the fishes once again as Borussia fans issue blast and players a battering

- MICHAEL GANNON

BORUSSIA DORTMUND fans branded UEFA bigwigs mafia bosses in a bold prematch banner.

But it was criminal defending that cost Celtic as they crumbled in front of the Yellow Wall.

This was meant to be the newlook Hoops in the Champions League, a team who could give the big guns a run for their money rather than being cannon fodder.

So much for that. This was the same old miserable story seen too many times in Europe’s top competition.

Chaotic defending, poor decision-making, panicking in possession and losing goals in bunches... every box on the brutal bingo card was ticked.

And that was before half-time. Celtic were 5-1 down by then and well on their way to yet another mauling to accompany the sevens hit by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain that Brendan Rodgers suffered first time around and the six by Atletico Madrid 11 months ago.

Karim Adeyemi plundered a hat-trick inside 45 minutes, with Emre Can and Serhou Guirassy both slotting penalties.

Guirassy grabbed another after the break before sub Felix Nmecha completed the bloodbath with 11 minutes left.

Fans might have scudded the local beer but this was a sobering night after Celtic’s slick start to the season.

Rodgers’ side have been stuffing rivals but were served up some of their own medicine and then some. Celtic set up to try to press Dortmund, just like most weeks. Only they don’t face this level of quality most weeks.

The heavyweights simply passed through the press and left an exposed backline in tatters.

The Hoops lost faith in the plan inside six minutes and were left caught between trying to step on to their rivals and defending their box.

In the end they did neither. Youngsters like Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo got swamped and even Callum McGregor struggled to keep his composure.