Ronny Deila had been clear. This was a night for Virgil van Dijk, the defender Celtic rate in the £10million bracket, to make a bold, decisive impact in European competition. It’s doubtful this was what the Parkhead manager had in mind. Van Dijk’s dismissal, for two soft yellow cards in nine first half minutes, was both damaging and contentious. Through Celtic eyes the Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak, a card happy, inconsistent character, was a key contributor to their latest night of disappointment on Italian soil. As they left the field Celtic players remonstrated long and bitterly with the referee. Fredy Guarin’s stunning 20 yard strike had broken their stubborn, tired resistance three minutes from time, but the anger lingered long into the night.
@highlight
Virgil van Dijk was sent off in the first half for Celtic for two yellow cards
@highlight
A stern defensive display meant Inter Milan could not get past Celtic
@highlight
But Fredy Guarin eventually struck in the 88th minute to win it
Expectations of an @placeholder storm at the outset of the second half proved misplaced.