Scottish Premiership champions Celtic beat Cluj 2-0 in the Europa League with Mohamed Elyounoussi and Odsonne Edouard on target.
Cluj director Bogdan Mara had no complaints after a 2-0 Europa League defeat to Celtic on Thursday, admitting that Neil Lennon has some ‘extraordinary’ footballers at his disposal.
Just two months after the Hoops were beaten 4-3 on home soil by the Romanian giants in Champions League qualifying, Celtic got some measure of revenge thanks to goals from Odsonne Edouard and Mohamed Elyounoussi.
The Scottish champions were the better team throughout and, if it wasn’t for some wasteful finishing from Christopher Jullien in particular, the margin of victory would have been far larger.
“The speed of some of their players is extraordinary. It is an extremely valuable team,” Mara said in quotes reported by Digi Sport.
“Look what budget these teams have, what transfers they make, we have no way to get closer. They sell players for 20 million.”
It was one of those famous European nights at Parkhead, ‘You’ll never walk alone’ ringing out from a sea of green as 60,000 fans descended on Glasgow.
And Mara was keen to pay tribute to the supporters who made the evening one to savour for Cluj, even if it ended in defeat.
“I think few teams can win at this stadium,” he added to A1. “It is a deserved victory of the Celtic and we do not doubt it.
“It is a very strong team and a stadium with some sensational fans and atmosphere.”
The result means Celtic have picked up four points from their first two Europa League games, following the creditable 1-1 draw away at Rennes a fortnight ago.
A place in the knockout stages already appears to be within their grasp.
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