Five other shockers from Scottish clubs in European football

Hearts were hammered by Tottenham at Tynecastle in 2011. Picture: Ian GeorgesonHearts were hammered by Tottenham at Tynecastle in 2011. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Hearts were hammered by Tottenham at Tynecastle in 2011. Picture: Ian Georgeson
Celtic suffered one of the worst results in their history with a 1-0 defeat by Gibraltar champions Lincoln Red Imps.

Unfortunately for our football nation, Celtic are far from alone in embarrassing themselves in European football.

Here are five other instances of our sides getting a red face against teams from the continent.

Artmedia 5 Celtic 0

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Gordon Strachan endured a disastrous start to his tenure as Celtic manager in 2005 when his side slumped to a humiliating five-goal drubbing by the Slovakians. Juraj Halenar scored a hat-trick, while Blazej Vascak and Martin Mikulic claimed a goal apiece. Celtic did restore some pride in the return leg in Glasgow, but a brave 4-0 win was not enough to prevent an early European exit in the Champions League qualifying round.

Kaunas 2 Rangers 1

Playing in the second qualifying round of the 2008-09 Champions League, Rangers had been held at home by Lithuanian side Kaunas in a goalless first leg. They led 1-0 away in the return but Nerijus Radzius equalised just before the break. A header four minutes from time by former Hearts player Linas Pilibaitis gave Kaunas a dramatic victory over Walter Smith’s side who had reached the Uefa Cup final the previous season.

Aberdeen 1 Sigma Olomouc 5

A humiliating Europa League first leg defeat by the Czech side in 2009. In new manager Mark McGhee’s first match in charge at Pittodrie, the Dons suffered their worst-ever home defeat. They lost the second leg 3-0 for a club record 8-1 aggregate defeat. McGhee, of course, had been a key member of the all-conquering Aberdeen side of the 1980s.

Hearts 0 Tottenham 5

Harry Redknapp’s Spurs tore Hearts apart at Tynecastle in the first leg of the 2011-12 Europa League play-off round. First-half goals by Rafael van der Vaart, Jermain Defoe and Jake Livermore put the visitors in the driving seat. Further goals by Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon killed the tie. Hearts played much better in the return leg at White Hart Lane which finished goalless.

Hibernian 0 Malmo 7

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Hibs had lost the first leg 2-0 in Sweden but Pat Fenlon’s side were utterly humiliated at Easter Road in this Europa League return leg three years ago. The 9-0 aggregate defeat remains the heaviest ever experienced by a Scottish club in European football.

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