Juventus served a severe blow with the hapless defending with some clinical finishing to beat Celtic 3-0 in the first leg of their last-16 match in the Champions League on Tuesday, almost securing the Italian champions' place in the quarters.
The entire atmosphere poised to a friendly one turned out into an extremely vibrant one with the football players coming hand in hand throughout.
Errors by defender Efe Ambrose, who only got back from international duty at the African Nations Cup on the morning of the match, led two goals by Alessandro Matri in the third minute and Mirko Vucinic in the 83rd.
Claudio Marchisio had netted the second goal in the 77th at the end of a vibrant team move by the present Serie A leaders, who were lucky enough to have been resulting in the Celtic's joint-heaviest home loss in European championship.
The score line was terrible for Celtic, which commanded the first half and most of the second, only to lack a cutting edge to beat Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
"We need a miracle but it's the harsh reality of Champions League football," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said.
The second leg would be held in Turin on March 6, when Juventus will look forward to end the Scottish champions off and ensure its unheralded run in this season's competition.
Paris Saint-Germain is in control of the other last-16 match played Tuesday after winning 2-1 at Valencia. Moreover, the French team will have to go bereft of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the second leg due his late sending-off at the Mestalla.
Celtic showed by beating Barcelona in the group stage that the team is a match for anyone at its daunting Celtic Park home, and it caused Juventus all types of issues with its relentless work rate and high pressing game.
"It's a great result in a difficult stadium," Marchisio said. "We came here to score at least one goal and we scored three without conceding, so we are very happy."
Also, it was Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, generally so composed and splendid in center midfield, was totally ruffled at being hustled and harried but Celtic couldn't find the finish to go with its build-up play.
"The score line flatters Juventus," Lennon said. "For 70-odd minutes, we were by far the better side but you can't give away sloppy goals."
Lennon may be regretting playing Ambrose on the day he landed in Scotland after more than a month away with Nigeria at the African Nations Cup. He played in the 1-0 victory over Burkino Faso in the final on Sunday but was rushed back for the biggest game in Celtic's recent history.
"We took a gamble on Efe Ambrose," Lennon maintained.
For the opener, Ambrose miscalculated a routine ball forward to leave Matri clean though on goal. The striker poked a finish with the goalie Fraser Forster's legs and the ball crossed the line by the time Kelvin Wilson slid in to clear away.
Marchisio directed the loose ball into the net for complete measure — with the assistant referee yet to allow — but Matri was offered the goal.
