Celtic and Atletico Madrid teams come out for the European Cup semi-final first leg at Celtic Park on 10 April 1974. Photo The Celtic Wiki
There was also a bitter irony in being drawn against Atletico, the club which many Celtic fans felt had cheated them out of a European Cup Final in 1974. If Rapid had been the arch-villains in 1984, Atletico had filled that role a decade previously. Unlike Rapid Vienna, there had been nothing subtle, cunning or devious about the Spanish side’s approach in Glasgow. Atletico were openly brutal, kicking and hacking Celtic’s players throughout the entire match. Eleven years later, before the first leg in Madrid, Atletico officials were quick to say they wanted to forget the ‘shame game’ of 1974.
Celtic urged fans not to travel to Madrid
In September 1985, Celtic urged fans not to travel to Madrid. Apart from fear that they might cause trouble again, there was also a worry that English hooligans – whose clubs had just been banned from Europe – might latch on to following Scottish clubs as an outlet for their violent impulses. Atletico estimated that around 70 Celtic fans attended but most media sources reckoned it was nearer 200. Few – if any – of that number had travelled from Scotland. (If anyone reading this was at the match please get in touch).
Atletico started the game very well and attacked throughout the first half. Celtic were disciplined but they eventually went behind after 35 minutes. In the second half, the Spaniards sat back and began to look vulnerable to Celtic’s attacks.
After 69 minutes, Mo Johnston scored a crucial away goal with a wonderful header from a Davie Provan cross. Stung into a response, Atletico won a penalty in 76 minutes after a reckless tackle by Paul McGugan, but Rubio saw his attempt saved superbly by Pat Bonner. Celtic finished the match looking the stronger, more threatening side.
Celtic competed bravely to obtain an excellent result
Overall, Atletico had been the better side on the night but Celtic had competed bravely to obtain an excellent result. The away goal now put Celtic in the driving seat. In normal circumstances, in front of a packed and passionate Celtic Park, Celtic would have been expected to finish off the job and progress to the next round.
However, the return leg would be played behind closed doors, a fact not lost on manager Davie Hay: “It will be a very difficult match at Parkhead because we don’t know how our players will react to a silent stadium.”
The entire crowd at Celtic v Atletico Madrid, Behind Closed Doors match in September 1985.
Hay found out soon enough. On 2 October 1985, the second leg took place in front of a deserted Celtic Park. Only 170 people were allowed inside the stadium, almost all of whom were players and officials of both clubs, with a small group from the Press. Several adjectives were used to describe the atmosphere, the most common being eerie, unreal, ghostly, haunting and bizarre. The strange kick off time of 2 pm simply added further to the general sense of weirdness and abnormality.
