Ex-Celtic duo help create history for the first time after AC Milan are humbled in the Europa League

Celtic endured another unforgettable evening in the Europa League on Thursday night, losing out to Celta Vigo.

But the same can’t be said for two former Celtic players – Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak – who had one of the nights of their lives in the colours of Bournemouth.

While Celtic were losing their third Europa League game in a row, Bournemouth made it three in three, including seeing off ten-man AC Milan on home soil.

Christie and Gannon-Doak played the entire match against the seven-time Champions League winners, as the Cherries, whose home capacity is just over 10,000, produced one of the greatest nights in their history.

Yes, it demonstrates the power of the English Premier League, but Bournemouth seeing off AC Milan 3-0 isn’t and shouldn’t be a surprise.

Financially, the Premier League and clubs like Bournemouth are now in a different world from the rest of Europe, including the champions of Scotland.

But while the Hoops don’t help themselves on and off the pitch, including going ahead and still losing to Celta Vigo, it’s great to see two of the club’s former players making themselves proud.

Christie left Celtic for Bournemouth in 2021; at the time, the south coast club were sitting in the second tier of English football.

The Scotland international has since become a regular member of their side, helping them to promotion, stabilising them in the Premier League and now guiding them to Europe for the first time in their history.

It could be argued that Bournemouth’s win over AC Milan is their greatest and most historic win of all time, but it could get better.

While Celtic sit joint-bottom of the Europa League group with zero points, Bournemouth, alongside Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, Ferencvaros and Olympiacos, have made 100% starts and have nine points from nine.