Celtic 0-2 RB Leipzig: Timo Werner’s header and Emil Forsberg’s strike seal the win for the Germans

Long before the final shrill whistle from the referee pierced the night sky, Celtic Park had enveloped a sense of acceptance.

The final stages of the Champions League will remain banned for Ange Postecoglou’s for the time being.

While the Australian’s men were not to blame for their efforts over the course of their first four matches, a lack of experience at this unforgiving level has taken care of them.

Too many missed opportunities. Too many mistakes. Not enough ice in their veins. They will have to write these down to experience and try to go again next year.

Again, there was much to admire about the way Celtic exonerated themselves at this level, but it didn’t last long enough to really alarm the regulars of the Champions League group stage they encountered here.

Coming back to a win over Ajax nine years ago, the quest for a home win in this competition continues and you wouldn’t bet on it ending any time soon.

Like last week in Germany, Postecoglou’s guys had to wonder how brutal this level is compared to what they’re going through most weeks.

A point from four games seems like little reward for their efforts, but it’s not bad luck either. This competition just chews you up and spits you out.

They are not yet out of the running to advance to the Europa League, but even that seems like a chance now.

A win against Shakhtar Donetsk in Glasgow is now non-negotiable. They will also need something from the last game in Madrid. Stranger things have happened. But not much.

Postecoglou felt that home advantage could play a big part in ensuring his side maintained a positive attitude no matter what came their way.

They couldn’t have wished for more. The stadium was previously a storehouse of sound and light, the cacophonous noise that swirled around it a life force in its own right.

They needed all the help they could muster. After being robbed of Cameron Carter-Vickers in Leipzig, Celtic had to make do without skipper Callum McGregor due to a knee injury sustained there and star winger Jota due to a muscle condition.

It was another special evening of press and counter-press. The kind of game that was exhausting to watch, let alone participate in.

The risks both sides were taking wouldn’t look out of place in a high rollers room in Las Vegas. They were exciting things.

As Celtic jumped forward from the start, Daizen Maeda flashed Liel Abada’s crotch inches wide.

The Leipzig defenders often seemed boxed in during those early skirmishes. They returned to long diagonals, a tactic executed with extreme precision.

In an instant David Rahm had leapt forward and crossed in front of Dominik Szoboszlai. Somehow, the Hungarian managed to shoot the ball over the far post when it felt like the net was bound to bulge.

Leipzig was slicker and smarter than Celtic as the match went on, but only marginally.

A heavy touch from Sead Haksabanovic led to a weak tackle from Matt O’Riley. To Postecoglou’s relief, as the visitors shot forward, Amadou Haldara’s shot was deflected in the air and finally into Joe Hart’s arms.

Carter-Vickers made a rare error of judgment when he jumped Andre Silva 40 meters out to let Leipzig in. Moritz Jenz came to the rescue by blocking Timo Werner’s driveway.

There was malice and threat in the air as the Germans advanced in numbers. Celtic had to work like dervishes to run back and wipe them out. The importance of the recovery pace that Jenz possesses was underlined.

Halfway through the first half, Postecoglou’s men had found their way. Greg Taylor sent Haksabanovic off with an early shot from the midfielder that was thrown over the post by Janis Blaswich.

O’Riley hit the upright from 20 yards with a smoking low blow with Taylor immediately hitting the crossbar with a header.

Fine work by Haksabanovic then yielded a peach of a cross for Kyogo Furuhashi. The Japanese couldn’t find the target with his staring header.

The injured Abada made way for James Forrest before half time. Hart ensured parity at the time by brilliantly kicking Christopher Nkunku’s attack over the crossbar.

The Celtic keeper was alert again when Leipzig restarted with more fervor. This time Willi Orban’s attempt to get the ball under the keeper failed via an unorthodox stop.

While Maeda’s clashing challenges on the giant Mohamed Simakan caused approving roars, Furuhashi’s waste only aroused groans.

You felt that the first goal would determine the winner. Szoboszlai should have found it after an early slip from Hatate, but he too lost his footing.

Forrest’s deep cross nearly fell into the net on one side before Jenz bent over from Werner’s attack on the other. It was goalless but breathless.

Maeda missed a great opportunity to give Giorgos Giakoumakis a minute to go after he took the field with a miserable cross.

The winger’s hopes of immediate redemption evaporated as he led Aaron Mooy’s cross a yard wide.

As the closing stages approached, the game was still on the cutting edge. There was fear among the home fans as VAR watched Hart’s advance on Nkunku, but the keeper’s touch left Celtic off the hook. But not for long.

Celtic would have had to roll a double-six to have been wise in any of Leipzig’s cunning schemes. They looked a little tired as Andre Silva came up behind with 15 minutes to go. His cut left Werner with plenty to do, but the former Chelsea man’s header from six yards was deadly.

To Celtic’s credit, they kept going. O’Riley had saved a shot. Giakoumakis was unable to bundle another chance on the second post. It wasn’t supposed to be. Such thin margins were the story of this campaign.

Any lingering doubts about the result were allayed six minutes before the end when Werner scored high in the net for substitute Emil Forsberg as the supplier of the first time.